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ORIGINAL LETTERS, 



ILLUSTRATIVE OF 



ENGLISH HISTORY J 

IHCLUDXNO 

NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS: 
FROiM AUTOGRAPHS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, 

AND 

ONE OR TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS. 



WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS 

HY 

HENRY ELLIS, F.R.S. Sbc.S.A. 

KI-:EPEK of the My\NUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



IN THREE VOLUMES, 

VOL. I. 

SECOND EDITION. 



LONDON. 

PRINTED 10 K 

HARDING, TRIPIIOOK, AND LEPARD. 



MDCCCXXV. 




PREFACK 



They who desire correct information of the 
History of their Country must not limit their reading 
to the Work of the General Historian exclusively. 

History, confined to the greater events which 
it records, is usually certain and true: but in the 
colouring which writers give it, and which they are 
proud to call the philosophy of history, it is too 
frequently erroneous. Characters are drawn by those 
who could not know the persons they describe : facts 
are imperceptibly peryerted to the uses of party : and 
events which owe their origin to the simplest, are 
often traced back to the remotest causes. Thus cir- 
cumstanced, History, however comprehensive in its 
view, partakes too much of the embellished nature of 
Romance. 

To remove doubts, to verify facts, and to form a 
clear conception of particular events, the reader must 
seek subsidiary aid, in the dispersed materials of 



VUl PREFACE. 

History; of which, obiginal letters g^ eminent 
PERSONS IN THE STATE form both the largest and the 
most important portion : and they exist in this Comi- 
try, in an uninterrupted succession, for more than five 
Centuries. 

These bear the impress of their respective times : 
and, whilst many of them regard affairs in which the 
writers were actively engaged, all afford a closer and 
more familiar view of characters, manners, and events, 
than the pen of the most accomplished compiler of 
regular history, even if he might be trusted, could 
supply. 

They unravel causes of action which without their 
aid would be impenetrable ; and even throw new light 
upon parts of history which superficial readers suppose 
to be exhausted. 

How far the present Selection of Letters may 
deserve so good a character, the Reader must de- 
termine for himself. 

The Editor has been desirous of producing a 
Work, which, while it exhibited within reasonable 
limits a series of historical Pictures, might be con- 
sidered as A Supplement to our Histories. To 
render it more acceptable, he has, here and tliere, 



PREFACE. IX 

prefixed Introductions to particular Letters, in which 
numerous traits and minute anecdotes bearing upon 
detached topics of history have been compacted and 
condensed. In the execution of this design the illus- 
tration of historical truth has been his sole object : 
and he believes it will be found that these Introduc- 
tions, as well as the Letters themselves, throw new 
light on various passages of our History. 

Many Readers, it is probable, will think the 
earlier part of the Series of Letters here presented, of 
a forbidding aspect, on account of the uncouthness 
of the language. But to have modernized these Let- 
ters would have answered no purpose of utility : it 
would have been like destroying the external charac- 
ter of an ancient mansion. Such words in them as 
are really obscure or obsolete, have been explained 
in glossarial notes. 



CONTENTS 



VOL. I. 



TTE& TAXiE 

I. King Heory V^^ to . « . • • . on the safe keep- 

ing of the Dmke of Orleans, his prisoner .... I 

zi. Archbishop Chichele to King Henry V^ when 
in France, upon the King^s sending for a 
Confessor....... ..v.. 5 

HI. Robert Waterton to King Henry ¥*> a j). 1 420, 
just before the King's marriage with Katherine 
of France - ..». .,. 6 

IV. Cardinal Beaufort to , to take some 

mon^ from his coffers, i «...•.• 8 

V. K. Edward IV. when Earl of Marche, and his 

brother the Earl of Rutland,^ to their father 
Richard Duke of York • 9 

VI. Richard Duke of York to the* Citizens of 

Shrewsbury, a.d. 1452; upon his Anarch to- 
ward London to overthrow the Duke of So- 
merset*.... ^« «f«.^*«t H 

VII. Richard Earl of Warwick to Thomas Rede, - 

one of his Bailiffi, for the rq)ayment of mo- 
ney borrowed in his dis^ess. 14 

viH. B. Essex to John Say, Esq. a. d. 1462 15 

IX. King Edward IV. to Dr. Alexander Legh his 

Almoner, and Ambassador in Scotland, a. d. 
1477, respecting some proposed marriages. . 16 

X. King Henry VU. to the Earl of Ormond, upon 

the arrival of the news of Perkin Warbeck's 
landing in Ireland in 1492. . . . .« 18 



Xll CONTENTS. 

LETTER PAGE 

XI. King Henry VII. to Sir Gilbert Talbot, knight, 

A.D. 1495, to prepare to join the King with 
his forces 19 

XII. Lord Bothwell from the Court of James the 

Fourth of Scotland to K. Henry VHV^ re- 
specting Perkin Warbeck. a. d. 1496 22 

XIII. Lord Bothwell, a second Letter, to King Henry 

VII*?^ concerning Perkin Warbeck. a. d. 
1496.. 25 

XIV. Second Letter of King Henry VII* to Sir 

Gilbert Talbot, upon the landing of Perkin 
in Cornwall, a. d. 1497 32 

XV. King Henry VI IV^ to the Bishop of Bath and 

Wells, upon the defeat of Perkin Warbeck 
at Exeter 34 

XVI. The Earl of Devonshire to King Henry the VII^ 

upon the flight of Perkin from Exeter to Co- 
lumpton. 36 

XVII. The King to announcing the 

pursuit of Perkin 37 

xviu. The Bishop of Bath and Wells to Lord Carlisle 

upon the same 38 

XIX. King Henry VII^ to Sir William Say, upon his 

feud with Sir John Fortescu. 39 

XX. Margaret Queen of Scotland to her father ELing 

Henry the VII9^ after her marriage* 41 

XXI. King Henry the VII^ to his mother, Margaret 

Countess of Richmond, a Letter of afiection 
and kindness 43 

xxu. Margaret mother of Henry the XIV^ to her 
Sou ; signing as Queen. A Letter of afiec- 
tion 46 

xxnu King Henr)* VIU^ to the Po[>e, on provision to 
l>e nmde ti> rt^M?^! the Gn>at Turic, enemy to 
tl)o ChrivStkn tUUh »» 48 

xxiv. Kiii^ Jttmw l\> ta' Sx^lmui to Kii^ Henry 

VU!\^ » Lcttvr or \^^Ai\l 63 



CONTENTS. 



Xlll 



LETTER 
XXV. 



XXVI. 

XXVII. 
XXVIII. 

XXIX. 



XXXI. 
XXXII. 

XXXIII. 
XXXIV. 



XXXVI. 

XXXVII. 

XXXVIII. 

XXXIX. 



PAGE 

Margaret Queen of Scotland to King Henry 
Vlllth respecting the Legacy bequeathed to 
her by her Father, which had not been paid 64 

Dr. Nicholas West to King Henry VIII«» de- 
tailing his interviews with K. James the 
Fourth ; and the state of the Scottish Fleet. . . 63 

King James IV^h to King Henry VHI* for the 
preservation of Peace, a. d. 1 515 76 

Catherine. of Arragon Queen of England, to 
Thomas Wolsey the King's Almoner, while 
attendant on the King in France, a. d. 1513 78 

Queen Catherine to Thomas Wolsey. Aug. 15, 
1515, expressing affection for the King's per- 
son : preparations for the war with Scotland, 
&c 82 

Queen Catherine to Thomas Wolsey. Aug, 25, 
1515: congratulations after the battle of 
the Spurs 84 

Lord Surrey's second Letter of Challenge to 
King James IV^*» of Scotland 85 

Queen Catherine to King Henry YllV}^ after 
the Battle of Flodden field, a. o. 1515 88 

Queen Catharine of Arragon to Thomas Wolsey 
after the battle of Flodden 89 

Thomas Lord Dacre to King Henry VIH'.^ a. d. 
1515, describing a border forray 92 

William Burbank to King Henry Vin?» upon 
the death of Cardinal Baynbrigge at Rome, 
A.D. 1514 99 

William Burbank's second Letter to King Henry 
VIIIt> upon the same 106 

Richard Pace to King Henry VHI*** upon the 
death of Cardinal Baynbrigge 108 

Mary Sister of King Henry VHl^.^ to Louis 
Xnth of France 115 

Mary Queen of France to King Henry VHP.*^ 



XIV 



CONTENTS. 



LETTER >AGB 

upon the dismissal of her rednne^ the morn- 
ing after her marriage 11^ 

XL. Mary Queen of France to Thomas Wolsey, 

then Archbishop of York, upon the same. . . 117 
xLi. Mary Queen of France to Wolsey, after the 

death of Louis XII^ 119 

Mary the French Queen to her brother King 
Henry VIII^ requesting him to said for her 
from France 131 

Mary Queen of France to King Henry VIII^ 
after her marriage with the Duke of Suffi>lk. . 1 22 

King Henry VIII? to Cardinal Wolsey, a Let- 
ter of kindness and confidence* 125 

Margaret Queen of Scotland to Lord Dacre, in 
answer to his solicitations to her to leave 
Scotland 127 

Margaret Queen of Scotland to Cardinal Wol- 
sey, after her arrival in England. 128 

Margaret Queen of Scotland to King Henry 
VIIL while journeying toward London, a.d. 
1516 .^ *- 129 

Queen Margaret to Cardinal Wolsey, asking for 
a supply of money 1 jO 

Queen Margaret to Cardinal Wolsey, respecting 

her going to Baynard's Castle i6, 

L. Thomas Lord Dacre to Cardinal Wolsey, a. d. 

1516, boasting that he maintains* and gives 

rewards to Scottish Outlaws 151 

LI. Dr. Cuthbert Tunstall to King Henry VIIL 
concerning Maximilian's proposal to resign 

the Empire to Henry, a.d. 1517 134 

1.11. Sir Richard Wingfield to King Henry VIIL re- 
specting the proposed Interview with Fran- 
cis M* A.D. 1519 139 

Liii. Sir Thomas Boleyn to King Henry VIIL re- 
porting the audience in which Francis 1*^ re- 



XLII. 



XLIXI. 



XLIV. 



XLV. 



XLVI. 



XLVII. 



XLVIII. 



XLIX. 



CONTENTS. 



XV 



LETTER 



LVIII. 



LIX» 



LX. 



LXI. 



LXII. 



LXIII. 



LXIV. 



LXV. 



PAGE 

ceived the promise of Henry's interest for the 
Empire. March 14, 1519.. 146 

Sir Thomas Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey, report- 
ing an Audience from the Duchess of Angou- 
lesme,' March 25, 1519 150 

Sir Thomas Boleyn to King Henry VIII^J> an- 
nouncing the Election of the Emperor Charles 
Vax 154 

Richard Pace to Cardinal Wolsey, on the Elec- 
tion of Charles V«>. . * 156 

Sir Thomas Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey upon 
the Christening of the Ouke of Orleans, af- 
terwards King Henry Il.of France. June 7^^ 
1519 : 159 

Sir Thomas Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey re- 
specting the Interview with Francis H a. d. 
.1520 162 

Sir Richard Wingfield to Cardinal Wolsey, re- 
specting die interview, Apfil 18*J», 15«0. . . . 166 

Sir Richard Wingfield to King Henry VIII^ 
May 7^, 1520, announcing a Present to the 
King of Horses * 168 

Sir Richard Wingfield to Cardinal Wolsey, 
May 25^, 1520. Farther preparations for the 
Interview announced 171 

The Lords of the Council to King Henry VIII. 
after the Interview 174 

Sir William Bitzwilliam to Cardinal Wolsey, 
detailing a conversation with Francis I^ con- 
cerning the Duke of Buckingham. A. D. 1521 176 

Extract firom the Cardinal's Answer to Sir Wil- 
liam Fitzwilliam, upon the same 178 

John Longland bishop of Lincoln to Cardinal 
Wolsey, signifying the King's approbation of 
Wolsey's intention to found a College at Ox- 
ford 179 

William Capon, dean of Cardinal College Ips- 



XVI 



CONTENTS. 



IXIX. 
1.XX. 
IXXK 
LXXIl. 

i.xxia. 

I XXIV. 

txxv, 
ixxri. 



iwx. 



I.XXX1. 



PAGE 

wich, to Cardinal Wolsey, upon the founda- 
tion and ordering of the College of Ipswich.. 185 

R. Gniffithe to Cardinal Wolsey, upon the emi- 
gration of the Irish to Pembrokeshire 191 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, express- 
ing the King's vrish to favor the town of Wex- 
ford in Ireland 195 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey. Various 
Intell^ence 198 

Sir Thomas More to Cantinal Wolsey, on the 
Earl of Devonshire's Marriage, &c 200 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, concern- 
ing a Bill devised for Sir Richard Wyngfield. 203 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, upon 
Scottish and other affairs 203 

Sir Th<Mnas More to Cardinal Wolsey, express- 
ing the King's pleasure respecting the marri^e 
of the widow of an Alderman of London.. . 207 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, upon 
Scottish ati&irs 208 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, upon 
the same 210 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, from 
the lui^ respecting my lord of Surrey; a 
mortality in the Army; &c 212 

The Karl of Surrey to Cardinal Wolsey after ihe 
burning of Jedburgh, a, o, 1523 214 

Cecily Marchiouo$« of Dorset to Thomas Crom- 
well, at\erwards Lor\l Oomwell 218 

to the Karl of Surrey, Lieutenant of 

the North, on the resistance ol' the ParHa- 
uH>nt to the Kii^. a» ix 1523 219 

IHie Karl ol^ Surrey to Cartlinal Wolsey when 
preparing to re?«>t the Duke of Albany's In- 
vasion. A* IK 1543 »•»•*,», 223 

Lortl S^irrey to Car^liiud Wolsn^x, upi>n hb fiur- 
ther (>re|viration$ , , . . . , 228 



CONTENTS. 



XVll 



LETTER 
LXXXII. 

LXXXIII. 

LXXXIV. 

LXXXV. 

LXXXVI. 

LXXXYII* 
LXXXVIII. 



XCIII. 



PAGE 

Lord Surrey to King Henry VIIF> after the de- 
feat of the Duke of Albany at Werk 232 

King Henry VIII^ to the Earl of Surrey; thanks 

him for the defeat of Albany 236 

King H«ary VIII^ to the Citizens of London, 
on their neglect to provide horses for the car- 
riage of his wines and provisions 239 

Lord Dacre to Cardinal Wolsey, reporting the 
Duke of Albany's negociations with the Scot- 
tish Lords, and his last departure for France. 

A. D. 1524 240 

Lord Dacre to Cardinal Wolsey in continuation 

of the former Letter 246 

King James V<?» of Scotland to King Henry 

VIII* in favor of the archbishop of Glasgow 251 
Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, detail- 
ing his conversation with the King, concern- 
ing John Joachim; &c. a. d. 1524 252 

The Archduke Ferdinand of Austria to Kong 
Henry VIII. announcing the Victory of Pavia. 

A. D. 1525 257 

Dr. Sampson to Cardinal Wolsey, on the news 

of the Victory of Pavia reaching Madrid .... 260 
Henry Duke of Richmond, natural son of King 

Henry VIII. to Cardinal Wolsey 267 

King Henry VIII. to Cardinal Wolsey, a Letter 

of kindness S69 

The Council for the Household of the Lady 
Mary to Cardinal Wolsey, concerning prepa- 
rations to keep Christmas 270 

Queen Catharine of Arragoh and King Henry 
VIII. to Cardinal Wolsey; a Joint-Letter, 
expecting the coming of Campegius. a. d. 

1527 274 

William Knight to Cardinal Wolsey: with an 
account of the audience given to the ambas-* 
sador of John Zapoi Sepuse King of Hun- 



XVIU 



CONTEXTS. 



LETTER 



XCVL 



xcvn. 



XCIX. 



PAGE 

gary; and of the permission given to Francis 
Philip the Queen's sewer to go to Spain, 
A. D. 1527 276 

Sir Bryan Tuke to Cardinal Wolsey, a. d. 1 528, 
upon the sweating sickness; the making of 
the King^a Will; &c. 282 

Sir Brian Tuke to Cardinal Wolsey, upon the 
transaction of various business with the King; 
his Majesty's practice of Medicine; the 
Sweating Sickness; &c. • • • 286 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, with di- 
rections from the King respecting the Nego- 
ciations with Spain 297 

Mary the French Queen to her brother King 
Henry VIII«»; a Letter of affection. 504 

Anne Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey, expressing 
gratitude 305 

Thomas Alward to Thomas Cromwell, a. d. 
1529. Watching Wolsey's motions 507 



LETTERS 

FKOM 

THE REIGN OF 

KING HENRY THE FIFTH 

TO 

THE REIGN OP 

KING HENRY THE SEVENTH. 



P&iOK to the Reign of HENRY the FIFTH, specimens of English 
Correi^Kiodence are rare. Letters previous to that time, were usually 
written in French or Ladn; and were the productions chiefly of the great 
and the leamed. The Letters of learned men were verbose treatises, 
mostly on express subjects : those of the great, who employed scribes, 
finom their formality frequently resembled leg<d instruments. We have 
nothing earlier than the fifteendi Century which can be caDed a Familiar 
Letter. The material too, upon which Letters were written, up 
to the same period, was usually vellum : very few instances indeed oc- 
curring, of more ancient date, of Letters written upon paper. 

The Reader who desires to see original spedipens of the French and 
Latin Letters of the earlier periods, will find plenty preserved in two or 
three of the Gottonian Volumes. There is a French Letter of Hu^ le 
Despenser as early as 1319, giving (Brders for the defence of his Casdes : 
and several occur in the same language, relating to the afiairs of Edward 
the Third. There is a Latin Letter of Richard the Seoond to Albert 
Duke of Bavaria, complaining of the turbulence of his nobility : and 
another from Henry the Fourth to Tamerlane, congratulating him upon 
his victory over Bajazet. But the titles of these are quite sufficient for 
the reader : for in their contents they are dry and wordy, with little of 
detail and less of artifice in their composition. 

It is not irrelative to this part of our subject to mention, that the 
eailiest Royal Signature known, of this Country, is as yet unpublished. 
It is the Signature of King Richard the Second. It occurs once in the 
Cottonian Library affixed to a Paper whidi concerns the sunendcr of 
Brest. It is Z> Roy R» £. ..There is anodier document remaining among 
the Records in the Tower, with a similar signature affixed. 

Of the Letters which form the first Section of the present Wotk, those 
which rdi^ to Perkin VTarbeck, and that which gives Henry the Se- 
venth's reasons for declining to join the Pope against the Turk, are 
probably the most important. This last Letter is believed to be die 
composition of Richard Fox bishop of Windiester, who sdKxded Wdsey 
in the arts of intrigue. 



1716 



TO 

HIS MOST SACRED MAJESTY 

KING GEORGE THE FOURTH. 



SIRE^ 

I MOST humbly lay at YouK Majesty's 
feet these Volumes illustrative of English History. 
They contain numerous Letters written by Your 
Majesty's Royal Ancestors: and the larger portion of 
them come from that Repository which Your Majesty 
has been graciously pleased to enlarge and enrich with the 
Donation of the Library collected by Your Majesty's 
REVERED Father: a Gift, greater than has been be- 
stowed by any Sovereign upon any Nation since the Library 
of the Ptolemies was founded at Alexandria. 

That Your Majesty may long live to 
witness the Advantages accruing to the Learned and the 
Good from such accumulation of Literary Treasure, is 
the earnest and the constant Prayer of 

SIRE, 

your majesty's most loyal 

and devoted SUBJECT AND SERVANT, 

HENRY ELLIS. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS, 

ETC. 



LETTER I. 



Kmg Hemry the Fifth to A Fragment, 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. III. fed. 5. Or%g,\ 

*«* Thifi fragment appears to have been written about the year 1418. 
A Letter in part of similar import, from the same King to the Bishop of 
Durham his Chancellor, written in 1419, is extant in R3rmer, from an 
original in the Pells Office. 



Furthermore I wold that ye coitiend* with my 
brothre, with the Chanceller, with my cosin of North- 
umberlond, and my cosin of Westmerland, and that 
ye set a gode ordinance for my North Marches, and 
specialy for the Due of Orlians, and for alle the re- 
manant of my prisoners of France, and also for the 
K. of Scotelond ; for as I am secrely enfourmed by a 
man of ryght notable estate in this lond that there 
hath ben a man of the Dues of Orliance in Scotland, 



• communed. 
VOL. I. 



2 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

and accorded with the Due of Albany that this next 
somer he schal bryng in the mamnet* of Scotlond 
to sturre what he may. And also that ther schold 
be founden weys to the havyng awey specialy of the 
Due of Orlians, and also of the K. as welle as of the 
remanant of my forsayd prysoners that God do de- 
fende. Wherfore I woUe that the Due of Orliance 
be kept stille withyn the'Castil of Pontefret, with owte 
goyng to Robertis place or to any othre disport, for 
it is bettr he lak his disport then we were discey ved. 
Of all the remanant dothe as ye thenketh. 



Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew of Charles the Sixth of France, who 
was found among the slain at the field of Azincourt, remained prisoner in 
England from 1416 to 1440. Henry the Fifth deemed his detention 
most important to the safe keeping of the conquests in France. The first 
place of his confinement was Windsor, whence, in 1417) he was removed 
to the castle of Pontefract in Yorkshire, under the care of an esquire 
named Robert Waterton *>. 

In 1430, he was removed to the Tower of London ; where he composed 
the Book of Sonnets which is still preserved among the Ro3rRl Manu- 
scripts in the British Museum <:, in one of the beautiful llluminationa of 
which we have the earliest View now known both of the Tower and the 
City. These Sonnets aremosdy amatory, or complaints of his imprison- 
ment, with, now and then, an affectionate remembrance of France :. 

** France jadis on te sonloit Dommer 
En tou8 pa3rs le Tresor de Noblesse, 
Car unx chaaeun pouoit en toy trouver 
Bonte> honneur, loyaulte, gentillesse*** 

One of these Sonnets bears the date of 1437- It is remarkable also that 
amongst them there are three Ballads in English, written with sufficient 
elegance to indicate that duzing his coofinement he had acquired an ,ac. 
curate knowledge of our language. 

• Mammet, or puppet. b Rym. Feed. torn. ix. p. 456. • MS. Reg. 10 F. II. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS* D 

Ih the Illumination abote noticed, the Duke of Orleans is represented 
in a room in the state story of the White Tower, writing, and surrounded 
by his guards. Whilst prisoner in the Tower, four hundred marks a yeajt 
woe allowed for his support*. He was released* with a great formality 
of Instruments; among which the protest against his liberation from 
Humphry Duke of Gloucestel: is not the least memorable. His own 
recognition of his liberty is dated Nov. 12th, 1440 ^ The Manuscript 
alluded to was written for the use of Hemy the Seventh. 

King James the First of Scotland, who is likewise ordered to be caie* 
fuUy guarded in King Henry's letter, remained a prisoner in England 
from 1406 to 1424. He, also, relieved the severity of confinement by 
poetic composition : and it is not A little remaxkable that Hairy the Fifth 
should, at the same time, have held in durance two prisoners, both of royal 
Uood, and, confessedly, the best poets of thehr age. 



LETTER II. 

jirchbishop Chichele to King Henry the Fifth when in 
France^ upon the King's serkdmgjbr a Confessot. 

[MS. COTTOX. VES?. F. XIII. fbl. 29. Orig.^ 

*^* From this Letter it will appear that the piety of Henry the Fifth 
was scarcely less ardent ^an his love of war. Two circuftnstances noticed 
in it, the si^ of Falaise, and the death of the King's confessor, fix its date 
to the beginning of the year 1418. The confessor was StepheA Patrlng. 
ten^ a Caimelite, whom Walsingham call% '^ vir ertiditnsin tiivio et qua». 
drivio" <^. He became bishop of St. David's in 1 41 5. In December 1417 
he was appointed to th6 see of Chichester, but dted before his translation 
ocMild ht peKfected. Some of the Sexmons whkh he preached before the 
King in the quality of confessor, are still extant in manuscript. 



SovEKEYN Lord, after iiioost humWe recoimiienda- 
cton with hele ^ bothe of body and of sowle, as zour selfe 

• Rytn. Feed. torn. x. p. 46S. <> Ibid. torn. x. p. %w. 

• Waimttgh. Hist. edit. ]S74. p. 432. '^ health. 

B 2 



4 OUIfilNAL LETTERS^ 

and alle zour liege men desire, lyke zow to wyte tBat 
the first Soneday of Lenton * the dwk ^ of Excester 
zour huncle sent for me to the Frer Prechours, wer ' 
I fond with him zour preest and bedeman** Thomas 
Fyshbom, and ther he tok to me zour Lettre wryten 
with zour owne hond in zour hoost be fore zour town 
of Faleys, be the wich I undirstood, as I have at alle 
tymes, blessud be Almyzty God, understonde, that a 
mong alle zour moost wordly® occupacions that any 
Prince may have in herthe % ze desire principaly ver- 
tuous ly vyng and zour sowle heele ; and for as myche 
as my brother of Seint David as was zour confessour is 
in his best tyme go ^ to God, ze desire that I shold be 
the avys of zour uncle a forseyd send zou in his stede a 
gode man and a clerk of divinite to ocupie that offis 
til zour comjmg into zour lond of ynglond. And whan 
I hadde red zour honurable letter zour uncle a for- 
seyd seyd to me that he hadde comunyd with Sir 
Thomas Fyschbom a forseyd be zour comaundement 
of this same matier, and whow ^ it semed to hym, if it 
lyked me, that Thomas Dyss a frer prechour, mayster 
of divinite of the scole of Caumbrygge, wer a good 
man and a sufficient ther to, and whow ^ thei hadde 
comunid with him ther ofFe, and al so with frere John 
Tylle the provincial of the same Ordre ther oflfe; and 
considereng his good name and fame as wel in good 

• Lent. »> duke. « where. ^ One who ofTers prayers for the welfare of another. 
• worldly. ^ earth. « gone. ' •» how. 



ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. O 

and honest lyvyng as in clergie, I assentyd in to the 
same persone, and so comuned with hym ther ofFe, and 
toold him owre comun avis; and he hath ziven his 
assent ther to and ordeyneth hym in aJle hast to come 
to zour presence, so that I hop he schal be with zou at 
the same tyme that zour chapel schal come : and be the 
grace of Grod ze schol fynde hym a good man and a 
spirituel, and pleyn to zu with owte feyntese*. For- 
thermore towchyng that ze desire to have licence to 
chese zou a ccmfessor .&c. I sende zu a letter ther offe 
a see^yd undir my seel, with sufficient power to do in 
that caas al that I myzt do my self in caas I wer my 
self in zour roial presence ^ Towchyng al odr things, I 
wot wel my lord your brother sendyth to zu pleyn- 
lych^: and ther fore undir zour Grace it semeth to me 
no more to vexe zour Hygnesse with myche redyng : 
prayeng ever almyzty God suych speed to graunt zou 
on zour moest ryal Joume that may be to his plesaunce, 
and hasty perfourmeng of zour blessud entent, and 
pees** to cristen pepul. Amen. Wryten at Lamhyth 
xvj day of Febr. 

zour preest and bedeman 

H. C. 

• dissimulation. 
^ Licentia concessa domino Regi ad eligendura sibi Confessorem. dat apud Lam- 
beheth 16 <lie Feb. A. D. 1417. {i. e. 1418.) Reg. Chichel. arcbiep. Cantuar. Pt. ii. 
iul. 331, b. 

« fully, from the Fr. adj. piein, * peace. 



ORICIKAL LETTERS. 



LETTER III. 

Robert Waterton to King Henri/ the Fifths a. d. 1420, 

Just before the King's marriage with Katherine of 

Fra/nce, 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. XIII. fol. 31. Orig.] 

*«* Robert Waterton has been already noticed as the Esquure to whose 
care th^ Duke of Orleans was consigned at Pontefr^ct, in 1417f He had 
been master of the horse to King Henry the Fourth. Metheleye, where 
the King had his Lodge, and whence the following Letter is dated, was 
situated about five miles from Pontefract. 



Ryght excellent hegh and ryght myghty Prynce, 
and most dredde sovereyne Lorde I recomaunde m^ 
to zour heghnes als lowely ^ any s)naiple trewe liege 
man and sugette kan best thynke or devyse, thankyng 
all myghty God of zour graciouse spede and right grett? 
conquest wyth the prosperite of zour awne persone, 
my lorde of Clarence, ray lorde of Exetre, and all my 
lordes beyng there in zour worshipfull servyce, wyth all 
the remenaunt of zour right worshipfull oste*. Os** I have 
conceyvid by zour right honorable lettres wrytin at 
zour Cytee of Rouen the xij. day of Marche, the whych 
I have receyvid ryght late syth Pask*^, wyth othir zour 
lettres undir zour Pryve Seale, chargyng me to assaye 
by all the menesse*^ that I kan to exy te and stirre sych as 
been able gentilmen wythin the shyre and the contree 



: Easier. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 7 

that I dwell in, to kome" ovyr to zowe at zour Wage, 
armyd and arayde as langys** to thaire astate, to do 
zowe servyce, and for to certifie als wele to zowe os*' to 
zour Counsell of thaire answere and thaire will, the 
whych zour hegh comaundem^it I have bygunne to 
labour apon and sail trewely forthe ^ dayly wy th all 
my myght till I have perfourmd zour forsayde co- 
maundement. And upon Wedjmsdaye next sail zour 
Justice sitte at Zorke ® opon the deliverance of the 
Gaole there and a Cession of the Pees ^ also, at which 
tyme I suppose to speke with many of the gentyls 
there, and als sone aftyr as I maye be answerd I sail 
certifie OS *^ zowe^hase lykid to<x)maunde me, wyth all 
the haste possible. Ryght excellent, hegh, and ryght 
myghty Prynce and moste dredde sovereyne Lorde I 
beseche the blissid Trinite to spede zowe and kepe 
zowe, and all zour worshipfull oste, and sende zowe sone 
in to zour roialme of Inglande wyth a joyouse maryage 
and a gude pees for his mykill mercy. Writin at zour 
awne logge of M etheleye the xij daye of Aprill 
zour trewe liege man and 

Subgitte ROBT. WAT^TON. 

■ come. ^ belongs. « ag. •> further. • York. ' Session of the Peace. 



ORIGINAL LETTEES. 



LETTER IV. 

Car dined Becmfinrt to 

[ms. cotton, vebp. f. III. foL 8. Orig.^ 

*^* The following short Letter relates to a small portion of that wealth 
which the rich and canning Cardinal of Winchester is said to have re- 
proached in his last moments, at the age of eighty, because it could not 
prolong his Life. The anecdote is told by Hall upon the authority of 
John Baker the Cardinal's privy counsellor and chaplain. Cardinal 
Beaufort's wealth however was sometimes serviceable to the State ; he 
lent King Henry the Fifth, at one time, the sum of no less than twenty 
thousand Pounds. 



Teusty and welle belovid I grete zow herttely well, 
and I pray zow that ze wile goo, and W. Toly my 
clerk, berer of thys, with zowe, to the Coffre that my 
monoye is inne, and take oute ijM. and ccc. marc, and 
take hit the forsayde Toly, and lette seele the Cofir 
azeyn with a signet of myn, gravin with the salutacion 
of oiir Lady, the whyche my seide clerk haht*. Wrytyn 
of myn owne hand at London the xij. day of Marche. 

H. CARDINAL OF ENGELAND, 
&C. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER V. 



Edward the Fourth when Earl of Marche, and his 
brother the Earl qfRuUanfid^ to their father Richard 
Duke of York. 

[mS. cotton. VE8P. F. III. foL 9. Orig.] 

*«* The chief singularity in this Letter is the use of the word 
'' natural" as implying a legitimate Son."^ It was brought in evidence, 
OD this very account, a few years ago, before the House of Lords, in the 
Case of the Borthwick Peerage. 



Ryght hiegh and ryght myghty Prince, oure ful 
redouted and ryght noble lorde and fFadur, as lowely 
with all oure herts as we youre trewe and naturell 
fionnes can or may, we recomaunde us un to your 
noble grace, humbly besechyng your nobley & worthy 
fFaderhode daily to yeve* us your hertely blessjmg : 
thrugh whiche we trust muche the rather to encrees 
and growe to vertu, and to spede the bettur in all 
matiers and things that we schall use, occupie, and 
exercise. Ryght high and ryght myghty Prince, our 
ful redouted lorde and fFadur, we thanke our blessed 
Loi'de not oonly of your honourable conduite and good 
spede in all your matiers and besynesse, and of your 
gracious preuaile ayenst thentent & malice of your 
evilwillers, but also of the knowelage that hit pleased 
your noUey to lete us nowe late have of the same by 
relacion of Syr Watier Deureux knyght, and John 



10 O&IGINAL LKTT£BS. 

Milewatier squicr, and John at Nokes yemon of your 
honorable chambur. Also we thonke your noblesse 
and good fFadurhod of our grene gownes nowe late 
flcndc unto us to our grete comfort ; beseehing your 
g<x)d lordeschip to remembre our porteux*, and that 
we myght have summe fyne bonetts sende un to us by 
(he next seure messig'*', for necessite so requireth. 
Overe this, ryght noble lord and fFadur, please hit 
your highnesse to witte that we have charged your 
Hcrvant William Smyth berer of thees for to declare un 
to your nobley ccrtayne things on our behalf, namely 
concernyng and touching the odieux reule and demen- 
yng of Richard Crofte and of his brother. Wherefore 
wo lK»8echc your graciouse lordeschip and full noble 
fliuhn*luKHl to here him in exposicion of the same, and 
to \\\H rclacion to yeve ful feith and credence. Ryght 
hiogh and ryght myghty Prince, our fill redoubted and 
ryglil 'noble lorde and fFadur, we beseche almygbty 
Jhn yovo yowe as good lyfe and long vdth asmuche 
tH>ulouual jKTfite prosperite 8& your princdy h«rt con 
W^i dtssir^ Writen at your Castill of Lodelowe on 
Solumhiy iu tlio Astur Woke*^. 

Your humble scnmes 
E. MARCHE and 

K. RUTLONDE. 



* VHi« >h'<^ t^V' l%^i^\MVX\ « <»yvm|y^WHt« mbsm^ whic)« contained not only the Oflice 
\^ S\^ M#M% ^1 aM < W S<«vliN« v^^tnNVA (hi^ Wvrm oT MMtii|!». TynrMl, fat hk Notes 
\S\^m Wsi^ H''4HMHu\ 1'aK'vkn m^-n^ iHaI <\m the l^ui&Mncm R<iUor Tth Edw. IV. there 
li ^ ^WilM^^^ llMtt «^ «\^Nw^ «yr rVMr^^<Mv»s ttr«$«U, MiMiu<ll. Ac. shouU be nude 
n^Hwv \^ \i\<f,\\\\ W*w^< >Ml vV^^x i h^ %S*oh the Ktn^ A^**«r«wl " Ic Roy s'avcisera." 
^ WWW ^ ^ Wn < K»«ttv W«ek. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 11 



LETTER VI. 



Richard Duke of York to the Citizens of Shrews- 
hury^ A. D. 1452 ; upon his march toxvard London to 
overthrow the Duke of Somerset, 

[F0RUSRL7 IN THE POSSESSION OF ^ODOLPHIN SPWARDS, jESA. Orig.'\ 



Right worshipful friends, I recommend me unto 
you, and I suppose it is well known unto you, as well 
by experience as by common language said and re- 
ported throughout all Christendom, what laud, what 
worship, honour, and manhood was ascribed of all 
Nations unto the people of this Realm^ whilst the 
Kingdom'^s Soverei^ Lord stood possessed of his 
Lordship in the realm of France, and Dutchy of Nor- 
mandy; and what derogation, loss of merchandize, 
lesicm of honour, and villany, is said and reported gene- 
rally unto the English nation, for loss of the same ; 
namely unto the Duke of Somerset, when he had the 
commandance and charge thereof: the which loss 
hath caused and encouraged the King^s enemies for 
to c(Hiquer and get GasccMiy and Gyanne, and now 
daily they make their advance for to lay siege imto 
Calais, and to other places in the Marches there, for 
to apply them to their obeisance, and so for to come 
into the land with great puissance ; to the final de- 



12 ORIGINAL LETTEES. 

struction thereof, if they might prevail, and to put the 
land in their subjection, which God defend. And on 
the other part it is to be supposed it is not unknown 
to you, how that, after my coming out of Ireland, I, 
as the King's true liege man, and servant, and ever 
shall be to my life'^s end, and for my true acquital, per- 
ceiving the inconvenience before rehearsed, advised his 
Royal Majesty of certain Articles concerning the weal 
and safeguard, as well of his most royal person, as the 
tranquillity and conservation of all this his realm : 
the which Advertisements, how be it that it was thought 
that they were full necessai'y, were laid apart, and to 
be of none effect, through the envy, malice, and un- 
truth of the said Duke of Somerset; which for my 
truth, faith, and allegiance that I owe unto the King, 
and the good will and favour that I have to all the 
Realm, laboureth continually about the Kings High- 
ness for my undoing, and to corrupt my blood, and 
to disherit me and my heirs, and such persons as be 
about me, without any desert or cause done or at- 
tempted on my part or theirs, I make our Lord Judge. 
Wherefore, worshipful Friends, to the intent that 
every man shall know my purpose, and desire for to 
declare me such as I am, I signify unto you that with 
the help and supportation of Ahnighty God, and of 
our Lady, and of all the Company of Heaven, I, after 
long sufferance and delays, not my will or intent to 
displease my sovereign Lord, seeing that the said 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 13 

Duke ever prevaileth and ruleth about the King's per- 
son, that by this means the land is likely to be destroy- 
ed, am fully concluded to proceed in all haste against 
him, with the help of my kinsmen and friends ; in such 
wise, that it shall prove to promote ease, peace, tran- 
quillity, and safeguard of all this land : and more, 
keeping me within the bounds of my liegeance as it 
pertaineth to my duty, praying and exhorting you, to 
fortify, enforce, and assist me, and to come to me with 
all diligence, wheresoever I shall be, or draw, with 
as many goodly and likely men as ye may make to ex- 
ecute the intent abovesaid. Written under my sig- 
net at my Castle of Ludlow, the 3rd day of February. 
Furthermore I pray you, that such strait appointment 
and ordinance be made, that the people which shall 
come in your fellowship, or be sent unto me by your 
agreement, be demeaned in such wise, by the way, 
that they do no offence, nor robbery, nor oppression 
upon the people, in lesion of justice. Written as 
above, &c. 

Youre good Frend 

E. YORK. 
To ray right worshipful Friends, the 
Bailiffs, Burgesses, and Commons of 
the good Town of Shroesbury. 



14 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER VII. 



Rkhard Earl of Warwick to Thomas Rede^ one of his 
Bailiffs, 

[M8. COTTOM. VE8P. F. XIII. foL 42. OrigJ\ 

*«* The particular distress to which the following 8h<»t Note alludes, 
cannot be discovered now : and it is probable that the Earl of Warwick 
wrote many such, for Hall speaking of his death in 1470 at the battle of 
Bamet, says ^' this ende had Richard Nevell earle of Warwicke, whose 
stoute stomacke and invincible corage, after so many straunge fortunes, 
and perilous chaunses by him escaped, caused death jl>efore he came to any 
old age piivily to steale on hym. But death did one thing, that life could 
not do, for by death he had rest, peace, quietness, and tranquillitie, which 
his Bfe ever abhorred, and could not suffice nor abide.*^ 



RICHARD EtfL 
OF WARREWYK 

Welebilouei> we grete you wele, and wol and 
charge you that of the revenuez of your office com- 
myng ye pay to Philip Lowez that he lent us in our 
right grete necessite, xlvj^ viij<i. and this our Lettre 
shal be your warrant. ZeVen* undre our signet at 
London, the xiiij day of Marche the yere of the reigne 
of King Henry sext, xxx. 

To Thomas Rede our baillif 
of Sutton or eny other for the ^ 

tyme beyng. 



OEIGINAL LETTEES. 15 



LETTER VIII. 

Jff. Essex to John Say, Esq. 

[ms. cotton, vesp. r. xiii. fol. 50. Orig.] 

♦^* The execution of Sir Baldwin Fulfbrd, a strenuous adherent of the 
House of Lancaster, ascertains the year 1462 as the date of this Letter. 
Stowe says, ^' This yeere, in the harvest season. King Edward rode to 
Canterbury and to Sandwich, and so along by the sea-coast to Hampton, 
and from thence into the Marches of Wales, and to Bxistow, where he was 
most royally received. Thus he progressed about the land to undeistaiid 
the estate thereof'. 



Worshipful Sir I recommaunde me unto you 
lating you wite that the King maketh right grete bostes 
of you for the truest and the feithfuUest man that any 
christen Prince may have, of the whiche I am right' 
glad and joyeux that ye have soo borne you, whiche I 
pray to God that it may longe endure to youre prouf- 
fit and worship. And as for the matier that ye sende 
to me for by Thomas Petevyn, the King laughed and 
made a grete game therat, neverthelesse I have prkied 
hys Highnesse to kepe it secrete. Also this Wendes- 
day after our Lady day** the King departeth from Ris- 
towe towards Gloucestor^ and so from Gloucestre to 
Herford, and from Herford to Ludlowe, and ther be 
wol abide unto the parlement tyme, and whan I have 
brought him there I wol eomme home with the grace 
of God. A& for any grete doyng in Walez I trust to 

* Stowe, Annal», p. 416. >> The Nativity of the Virgin- Mary, Sept. stir, is here intended. 



16 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

God we shal not double. The Lord Herbert and the 
Lord Feriers of Chartley with divers many other gen- 
tilmen ben gon afore to dense the countreye afore us. 
And this same day Sir Bauldwyn Fulford and an 
other called Haysaunt ben putte iu execucion. And 
our Lord kepe you ever. Written iniiast at Bristowe 
the ix. day of September 

B. ESSEX. 
To the worshipful! and my 
right wellbeloved John Say 
£squier. 



LETTER IX. 



King Edward IVih to Dr. Alexcmder Legh his AU 
monerj cmd ambassador in Scotkmd, a. d. 14T7. 

[mS. COTTON. VESP. C.XVI.foL121. Ort,§^ SIGNED WITH THE KINO*S 
INITIALS AT THE BEGINNING AND END.] 



R. E. 

Maistre Legh, where as our brother and cousin the 
King of Scotts desireth a manage to be had betwixt 
our brother of Clarence and a sustre of the said King 
of Scotts; and another mariage also, to be had be- 
tween our sustre the duchesse of Bourgonne and the 
Due of Albany his brothr' : Ye shal say, that for so- 
moch as this desir procedeth of his entier love and af- 



ORIGINAL LJSTTEBS. 17 

fection anempst* us, we thanke hjrm as hertily as we 
can : and forsomoch also as aftre the old usaiges of this 
our Royaume noon estat ne person honnorable com- 
muneth of manage within the yere of their doole^, we 
therfFor as yit can not convenientely speke in this 
matier. Natheles when we shal finde tyme covenable^ 
we shall feel their disposicions, and thereuppon shewe 
vnto hym the same in all goodely hast. 

Item, whereas we have other tymes addressed our 
Lettres missiues vnto Robert Conestable for restitucion 
of the goods of Thomas Yare, we nowe have sent for 
hym by priue Seal to come vnto vs in his own person, 
and to shewe cause why the said restitucion is not 
doon. 

Item in the matier concemyng the robbery of the 

tenaunts of Sir John CarliU and other of th** obeissance 

of our said brother King of Scotts, ye shal say that 

we have written vnto our brother the Due of Glou- 

cestre, wardeyn of our West Marches, that he shal see 

due reformacion to be had according to right and 

custome of the said Marches. 

R. E. 

• anent* concerning* 

i> Margaret duchess of Burgundy had recently become a widow. Her husband, 
Charles the hardy, was killed in batUe Jan. 5th, 1477* 

This custom* of a widow not marrying agsiin till a year has elapsed, is of very 
high antiquity ; and was not confined to England. It is enjoined both in the Saxon 
and the Longobardic Laws. The notice of a forfeiture of property on this account 
occurs once in the Domesday Survey. 

• convenient, suitable. 



VOL. I. 



18 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER X. 

King Henry the VIP^, to the Earl qfOimond. 
litfSi cotTOlr. TiTts B. XI. foL 24 b. Orig,] 

•^* " Who was Perkin Warbeck," is a question wHich 'the English 
Annals cannot resolve. 

Lord Orford, when he wrote his Historic Doubts, thought that if 
diligent search was to be made in the public OiSices and tJonVents of the 
Flemish Towns in which the Duchess Margaret resided, new light might 
be gained to this part of our History : and something it is possible may 
evoi yet be found in Ireland, if any ancient papers exist with the fkoaily 
of the Fitzgenilds ; for PerUn Warbeck is beUeved to have presented at 
least a satisfactory Account of his birth and condition at his JSrst landing 
in that country, to the Earls of Desmond and Kildare. 

The Letters here presented to the reader concerning Perkin Warbeck, 
nine in number, relate to his movements only. The first was written by 
King liehry the Seventh, apparently upon the arrival of the news of 
Perkin*8 landing in Ireland in 1492. The second Letter, from the King 
to Sir Gilbert Talbot, seems to have been penned in 1495, after Henry 
pretended that he had traced Perkin's history. It is remarkable that in 
this Letter the King asserts that Perkin, when he went first to Ireland, 
passed himself off in no less than three different characters : an anecdote 
which cannot be believed, as it must, of itself, have been fetal to his cause. 
The two succeeding Letters are from John Ramsay Lord BothweU whom 
Henry employed, in 1496, as a spy at the Court of James the ^Fourth. 
The remaining Letters, partly from the King, concern the last lanSdiDg;, 
and the defeat of Perkin at Exeter. They accompany his flight to 
Taunton. His subsequent catastrophe is sufficiently known. 



(The Kings Monogram,) 

By the King. 
Right trusty and right welbeloved Cousin we greete 
you wcle, and have tidings that our Rebelles landed 



QJBLI^aiVAh LETTERS. 19 

the vth dgye of this Monetb in our land of Irland\ 
Wherfore, and for^mpche as we have sent for our 
derrest wif and for pur derresit moder to come unto us, 
and that we wold have your advis and counsail also 
in soohe matiers a^ we have to Aoo for the subduypg 
of our said Reibelles, we praie you that, yeving yoiur 
due atjtepdaunc^ uppon our said derrest wif and lady 
moder, ye come with thajnoa unto us ; not failing herof 
as ye purpose to doo us plaisir. Yeven undre our 
SJgn^tt at our Caatell of Kenelworth the xiij daye of 
Maye. 
To our right trustie and right welbeloved Coiuin Th'erl of 
-Qrmond, Cha|pl)erlan to qvac derre^ Wif the Queue. . 



LETTER XJ. 
JKi^ Henry the VIP^: to ^ir GUbert Talbot, knight 

[from the ABClilVES OF THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY. Or%g.\ 



\ 



- H.R. * By the King. 

Teusty and welbeloved we gr^te you jv^le. And 
not forgeting the grete pi^ice that the lady Margarete 

• The refuly support which Parkin Warbeck received at, his iBrst landing in Ireland 
•lirmn llie wilder hmabi^te of that country, is particularly noticed by Bernard An- 
dreas, the poet-laureate and historiographer of Henry the Seventh, who was also the 
praceptor of Prince Arthur. In his iiistcnry, which still remaim in 'manuscript only, 
noticing Pepin's recall from France by Marfgaret, he says '* Junonk ilium revo- 
caiite« in iPlaodriam proCeotus est. Post in Hybemlam coronationls gratia prospero 
▼ento delatus, magniun barbaronim Ulius insulae partem suis calidissirois subomavit 
tractationibus.** M£> Cotton. Domit. A. xviiL fol. 210. 

c2 



90 OmiGINAL LETTEft^. 

of Biirgoigne bereth cont3mue]ly against us, as she 
diewed lately in sending hider of a fajmed boye*, sur- 
mising him to have been the son of the Due of Clarence, 
and caused him to bee accompanyed with Th'*erl of 
Lincoln, the Lord Lovel, and with a grete multitude 
of Irisshemen and of Almains, whoes end blessed bee 
God was as ye knowe wele. And forseing nowe the 
perseverance of the same her malice, by th'*untrue con- 
triving eftsones of an othr fayned lad called PerkiA 
Warbek, bom at Toumay in Picardy, which at his 
fiurst into Irland called himself the bastard son of king 
Richard ; after that the son of the saidDuc of Clarence; 
and now the secund son of our fadre King Edward the 
iiij*, whom God assoille; werethorough she entendeth 
by promising unto theFlemjmges and othr of ThVche- 
dukes obeissaunce, to whom she laboureth dailly to 
take her way, and, by hir promes to c'tain aliens Capi- 
tains of estrange nacions, to have Duchies, Counties, 
Baronies, and othr landes within this our Royaume to 
induce theim therby to lande her*" to the distraction and 
disinheritaunce of the noble men and other our sub- 
giettes thinhabitantes of the same, and finally to the sub- 
version of this our Royaume in cas she may atteigne to 
her malicious propos that God defende. We therfor, 
and to thentent that we may be alway purveied and in 
aredynes to resiste her malice, write unto you at this 
^vu:^; and wol and desire you that prepairing on 

* Lambert Slmnell. »» here. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 21 

horsbak, defensibly arraied, four score personnes, 
wherof we desire you to make asmany speres with their 
custrelles * and di. lances ** wele horsed as ye can fur- 
nissh^, and the remaynder to bee archers and billes, 
ye bee thoroughly appointed and redy to comme upon 
a day wamyng for to do us service of warre in this 
caas. And ye shalhave for every horsman wele and 
defensibly arrayed, that is to say for a spere and his 
custrel* xij**. a di. lance ix^. and an archer or bille on 
horsback viij^. by the day, from the tjrme of zour 
commyng out unto the tyme of your retoume to your 
home again. And thus doing ye shall deserve suche 
thankes of us for your loving and true acquitaill in that 
behalf as shalbe to your weale and honor for tyme to 
come. We praye you herein ye wol make suche de- 
legens as that ye be redy with your said nombre to 
come unto us uppon any our sodein wamyng. Yeven 
undr our Sign^ at oure Castel of Kenilworth the xx. 
day of July. 

To oure trusty and welbeloved Knight 
and Conseillor Sir Gilbert Talbot. 

• custzels the servant of a roan at atms. Fr. couatittier. ' >> demi-Iaaoeg. 



2% ORIGINAL LETTBBS. 



LETTER XII. 
iMd Both'vbeU to K. Henry Vllth, a. d. 1496. 

[tas. fcoTTOK. VESP. c, XVI. fcl. 164. Orig.'\ 

•^* Lord iBacbn, io userhis own words, "had much light for thefiir- 
Oishing b£ his History" from the Cottoman Blanuser^ts : yet the two 
Letters of Ramsay Lord Bothwell, which immediately follow, quite 
efN»ip^ Ms iiotioe. 

The History of this man, tad his eohnexion wlA Henry Ae Seventh, 
are too important to be omitted here. He was the son of John Ramsay of 
Co^rstoun, and w^s d^sdend^ from the Houte df Cambdc of Fife. Hk 
genius and accomplishments recommended him to the notice of King James 
the Third, and he was the only one of the favourites of that Monarch who 
escaped the memotat)le elcedutidh at Lauder in 1482 1 owing His ssfbty to 
his clasping the person of his sovereign, and jumping^ behind him on hcnrs^. 
back. James the Third bestowed upon bun the lands, barony, and lord- 
ship of B(Hhwell in 1484, iiy whiidh title he sat iA the Scottish iWlSailnent 
as a Peer. He was ambassador to England in 1486, and again in 1488. 
His attachment to his master, however, occasioned his proscription ; and 
his title and estates were proUounced foifeited in the PArliauent Whidi 
King James the Fourth held at Edinburgh Oct. 8th, 1488 ; after which the 
LbidsMp of &thwe^ was conferred on Patrick Lord Hales who was 
created "Eail of BbthwdO. Bimtoy Lord BothweH now took lef^ in 
England. In 1491, he and Sir Thomas Todde entered into an Liden- 
ture with king Henry the Seventh by which it was agreed thial JiuneiB Earl 
of Buchan and Sir Thomas Todde Should deliver King Janxes Ae Fdiurth 
and his biother the Duke of Ross prisoners into King Henry's hands c in 
expectation of which service King tienry advanced in loan, upon security, 
the penurious . sum of £266 13«. 4d, The Instrument which records 
this transaction was unknown even to the Scottish historians till Rymer 
published it in 1711 '. 

The exact time of Ramsay Lord Bothwell obtaining permission to return 
to the Scottish Court is not stated. He was probably at first admitted to 
return on sufferance, as his remission and rehabilitation under -the Great 
Seal of Scotland was not obtained till April 18th 1 407* James the Fourth 
appears to liavc had no knowledge of liis having acted as a Spy for 
Henry the Seventh. The title and estates of Bothwell had been granted 

• Flym i'ord. Loin. iv. p. uo. 



\ 



OEIGIKAL LETTERS. 23 

away ; but, at successive times he was rewarded with various lands, and 
on May 13th 1510 had the free banmy of Balmain granted to him and 
hisheiis. He died in 1513 «. 



Plbaiss zour Graice anet^ ^ ye mater yat master 
Wyot laid to me I have ben besy about it, and my 
lord of Boughcan takis apon hym ye fulfilling of it, 
gy f it be possible ; and thinks best now in yis lang nyt 
witliin his tent to enterprise ye mater ; for he has na 
wach bot ye Kings apoinctit to be about him ; and yai 
have ordanit ye Inglismen and strangers to be at an 
oder quartar Ingt bot afew about him. I pnt^"" my 
Lord zour Letter of ye quhilk he was full glaid and 
Weill contentit. 

I past to Santandr ^ and commonit at lenght with ye 
kings broder, and gaff him ye cros bow. He com- 
maids his servis humbly to zour Graice, and sayes he 
intends to do zoitr Grace serves, and will not, for ought 
ye S3ng can do, cum to yis ost ^ aganis zour Graice. 
And now my lord of Mrray pass' o*^ to him gyff ye 
King cummis to yis Jomay, as I dout not he will, in 
contrar his barronr' ^ willis and all his hail peplen, and 
my Lord will solist yis zoung Prince to cum to zour 
Graice. 

Sr, I ondirstand, ye xxviii day erf August, yar com a 
man out of Carlell to Perkin, and eftir Perkin brought 
him in to ye King I remanit to cmdirstand ye mater. I 
was informit secretely yat yis man sould have cummyn 

• Sec Douglas'8 Peerage of Scotland, ed. 1813. vol. i. p. 231. »» anent^ concerning. 
« inese^ited. * St. Andrews. • host. f baronry. 



524 



oiiu;iN.\i 



fra llandell of Daciv, hi'-i 
the Sceltonisfor niokyll S- 
voyanc of liim. 

Sr, ondoutitly thir Nor'" 
schrevitly* at day is oi 
apoinctit betwix yam . 
throw yam yir *^ vai^ainm. 
and sundry w'tiii*;.^ ^ . 
Hatfcld yat was \\\,, 
and he tellis \uin\\ 

Sr, senit is \;i 
inclinittoyegi:!. 
myndfdfiilii l... ■ 
Duresme in li. 
have zoiir ir.u. 
for surly vi> 
ye will of v 
therfor, I': 
tains* ai*i 
ye fok - 
werk rf *" 

Sr- 
erlo I'! **■* 

And 



-1 jeceai- 

^^ its? jan not 

^ jtx^uasion 

... :c je punyst 

,^ .e mourdir of 

_ w .uug send for his 

.. a.--*itiit yam to pas 

j^ntor callit Pcrkyn 

..^-. jttiL ba' anent ye 

. .^ciiuerie of ye cas- 

^ _^ .;jr .v« listing of ye 

_ o^ 4iun< him and his 

., ^,^>5Mni marks within 

. ^ jiiS K delay quhill 

-.^ je in ye counsall 

^,^»^ Lovnd ye prest, 

,.dwtfM>vng has bound 

M or ve cot»ts maid on 

.^ jn jBCs* and yus is yis 

^ ««4i *^ ^^ ^^ y^ ^^ 

\ and I did sa 
jwdi-acc, ye quhilks 



x'Mr*^**"^^^" Piiikert. 
4 -xitKr iiMiiqiiCil to IVrkin 
»^ Sk***! Vn nail's, p. 4T«. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^ 

LETTER XIII. 

Lord BothweU to King Henry Vllthj a. d. 1496. 

[m8. cotton. VE8P. c. XVI. foL 152. Orig'] 



ScHiR, I commend my servis humbly to zour Hight 
nes, and all this lang tyme I have remaint ondu* res- 
pit and assurans within ye realm of Scotland, and 
mast in ye court about ye King, geven^ attendans and 
making lauboris to do zour Graice ye best serves I 
can, and has full oft tymes solist ye Kings hightnes 
and all ye weiU avisit lordes of his Realm to lef ye 
favor and supports ya^* geve to yis fenyt boy, and stand 
in amyte and gud love and peax with zour hightnes, 
to ye quhilk ye King in his ansnrs and wourdis sayis 
alwayis he wald erest*^ sa he myt have sic things con- 
cludit as my lord of Duresme com for ; an gyf yat 
be not, I ondirstand without dout yis instant xv. day of 
September the King, with allyehaill'^pepleof hisrealm 
he can mak, wilbe at Ellam |cyrk within x. myll of ye 
marchis of England, and Perkin and his company 
with hym ; the quhilk ar now in noum"* xiiijC. of all 
maner of acionis^ ; and without question has now con- 
cludit to enter within yis zour Realm ye xvij. day of ye 
sam monetht in ye quarrell of yis said fenit boy, not- 
withstanding it is agens ye mynds of nerrest ye hall^ 

« giving. bthey. « first. «* whole. •nations. 'whole. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^ 

.i\ tliankfiiUy wretin, bering in eflFect how ye 
Franc ondirstud yat yar* was ingenering^ a 
. apperans of debat betwixt zour Hightnes and 
' i* king of Scotts, and how y^ he of consideracion thar 
: . had send ye lordConquersalt to ondirstand ye Kings 
= synd and ye occasions of ye sammjm, quhidder zour 
(irace or the said King of Scotts war in ye fait ; and 
liecaiis of ye tendernes 'of blud and also ye tendir 
aniyte he stands in with zou ba*, he prayit ye King y^ he 
my t be anotiper*^ betuix zu to set zu at concord, for he 
onderstud be zour writings send be Richmound and 
Gyenis yt mekell of this onkyndnes movit of ye party 
of ye king of Scotts. And efter yis ye king past to 
counsaill and tout ye lord Conquersalt and sheu how 
it was all movit on ye party of England, and how he 
had lost sa mony schippis, sa great herschippis of cat- 
tall on ye bordors ; and efter yis ye lord Conquersalt 
was bot right soft in ye solistacion of yis peax, and to 
myn apperance maid bot litill diligens herin, saying to 
my selff, efter I desirit him to mak diligens, it w«^s no 
wounder zo^ ye king war sterrit to onkyndnes. 

Fordir I have sought out of yis said lord Conquer- 
salt, and ondirstande werraly^, he has laid to ye King 
to have yis said Perkin send in to France ; and he sail 
mak myance* ye king of Scotts sail have for him jC. 
thousand crounis, and zit lauboris apone ye sammyn. 
This I knaw for certan, to quhat purpos I ondirstand 

■ there. ^ ciJi^cudcriufi. «= an umpire. <* verily. * jneaiis. 



28 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

not, bot I wait* well ye lord Conquersalt show me 
ye king of Franc wald not ye King maryt** with zour 
Grace ; alsoo he schow me how great inquesidon was 
maid to onderstand of Perkins byjthe ba' be ye ad- 
mirall and him ; and than I schew him ye Wryting I 
had of M eautes, and he planly said he nevir onderstud 
it bot rather trouit*^ ye contrary, and I think his cum- 
myn hudyr^ has don bot litili gud, for he and ye boye 
ar everie day in counsaill. 

Sr, zo* yis be prevy, and zo* he be my cuntremao, I 
beand zour servand, I welbot schew ye treucht ; and 
ford' ® I sail schew zour Grace at my cummyn. 

Sr, I wrait how Sr Greorge Nevill and his complices 
war bondid befor my lord of MuiYay and me; and 
anon efter I gat zour last wryting to yat effect I as- 
sayit ye said Sr George and he ansuerit me yat he was 
ihclinit to be at ye commandement of the King of 
Scotts, and gy f zour Grace and he agreit he sould tharin 
quy t him of Perkin ; and now yai stand in anew coun- 
sort ; and yus I will not schew zour wryting, bot I dout 
not he and all ye remanent will repent it ; but surly 
in ye counsaill he desirit yis Dyet sould be put of ^ 
quhill ye next somer, & y^ he said me was for ye pka- 
sor of zour Grace; and I answerit him ze karit not for 
his pleasor or displeasor. 

Sr, and it be not yat zour Grace pas in agrement with 
ye King of Scotts, as me semes ze neid litiU, and zour 

• wot >> nuu^rcU. < trowni. * hithor. • Jforthor. ' off. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^ 

Graice ondirstud all things, I dout not ye zoung aven- 
turusnes of ye King will ba' joupert* himselff, ye boy, 
and all his peple : and wiU zour graice do apart of my 
sempill avertisment I dout not yar Joumay salbe re- 
pentit in to Scotland y is hundret zer to cum: and be 
God him selff yar sal be na he in England sail mar ^ 
willingly nor treuly help yarto, becaus I find him sa 
fer out of reason, and sa litill inclinit to gudnes, bot all 
to traublen and cruelte without his wilbe fulfilli^ in all 
poincts, and wat he avis weill snybbit% he wald be ye 
better avisit quhill he leuit \ 

Sr, king Edward had never fully ye perfit love of his 
peplen quhill he had wer off Scotland ; and he mad 
sa gud diligence and provision tharin, that to yis our « 
he is lovit : and zour Grace may als well, and has als 
gud atyme as he had; for I tak on me ye King of 
Scotts had not a C. pounds quhill now yt he has cunzet ^ 
his chenys, his plat, and his copbords; and yar was 
nevir pepill wars « content of ye kings guvemons yan 
yai ar now. Notwithstanding I have ben sa lang and 
desirusly inclinit to ye amyte, now seing ye fait in ye 
king of Scotts, I salbe als willing to do ye contrar ; 
and, cum it to apruff'*, yar vill meny be contrar his 
opunicHi. Thar is mony of his faderis servants wald 
se a ramedy of ye ded * of his fadyr zit K 

Please your Graice to send me wourd quhat serves 



■ jeopard. 


•» more. 


e snubbed. 


d till he leave it. 


• hour. 


'coined. 


s worse. 


«« a proof. 


ideed. 


*yet. 



so OAIGINAL LETTERS. 

or oder thing I sail do, for I salbe redy to do «our 
oommandements at my power ; and now 1$ cum ^ ii^ 
within zour Realm to avak opon :^ur Grace or oa 
quhom zour Grace will apoinct me ; and I. sail not faiU 
be Godds grace in yis besinis to do gud and exceptable 
serves, and yar saHbe na preve thing don, noudyr about 
ye King nor dn his ost, bot zour Grace sail have knau- 
lage tharof ; and that that is trew and onfenit, for I 
have stableait sic myance ^ or I departit. 

Sr, her is cummyn out of Flandrs Bodyk de la Lane 
with twa litill schippis and iij*''. off Abnans. I stud by 
quhen ye King ressavit him in presence of Perkin ; 
and thus he said in Franch. '^ Sr, I am cummyn her 
according to my promys, to do zour Hightnes servis, 
and for non oder mans ^kam I cum her,.for and I.had 
Bot had zour letters of warand I -had ben axrestit in 
Flandrs, and put to great trouble for Perkins sak ;^ 
and he com not ner Perkin ; and than cam Perkin to 
him, and he salut him and askit how his Ant did ; and 
^be said '^ well ^^ ; and he inquirit gyf he had ony letters 
fra hir to him, umd hcisad he durst bring nan, Isot he 
bad to ye King. And surly he has brought ye king sun- 
dry pleasant things fen- ye wer^, ba* for maniond hors. 

Sr, and zour Graice have ggud"* army on ye«ee, ze 
my^ do agreat aot,ibr all ye schifmien and inhabitants 
[of] ye havin towns pass with ye king bdand aad.yus 
•my^ all thar navy be distroyit and havin touns brynt. 

• 1 am come. >> mcMis. « war. ^ a jjood. 



OKIGIXAL LETTESS. SI 

I past in ye Castdl of Edraburgfat, and saw ye pn>. 
vision of Ordinance, ye quhilk is bol Ktill, that is to 
say ij. great curtaldis* y^ war send out of France, x. 
falcoms or Htill snpentinis \ xxx. cart gunnis of ime 
with chawmeris*^, and svi. clos caorts fcnr spars, pow- 
der, stanis *', and odir stuf to yir gunnis longin. 

Sr, I dout na thing, bot gyf thar folkis at yar entre 
within iiij or v nyghts be so wery for waching and for 
lak of wetallis^ yat ya sail call on ye king to ratome 
hame, and yus ratomyng ya sail not be foughten 
withall. That it wald pleas 'zour Grace efter yar en- 
tre in England y* ye folkis of "Northumbrdand and ye 
byschoprek rate it to ye bed of Northumbreland west- 
wart, and sat com northwart, noght streight apon ye 
Scotts ost, bot sydlings, quhill yai war ba* elyk ^ northt 
and southt apon yam ; and yan I wald yir said folks 
fell in on yar bakks, and befor yame to encounter yam 
-ye power of Zorkschir ; said yus gyf yai oudyr^ ret-it or 
fled abak, yia myt not escap bot be ifbughtin with all, for 
tonsidering yis kng ny^ and ye great baggage and 
cariags, xxM. men wiar als sufficient lis jC. thousand : 
itnd yir folks behind yam wiald^put yam to agrettar affray 
yan tw5r8 samony ^ effor yam. Sr, I have herd the dis- 
'pdtaeioiiis of my cuntremen, and yarfor I Mnryt yis 
•clause. ?Fordyr ♦ye holy T'nite fnanten aour honor 

• These; iU their Yuunc Ihlpbfrt; were* short pl^cea of ordnance. •» imall •rtillrry. 

« chambers. ' stones used as cannon-balls. •victuals. 'alike. 

I eiUicr. »• so many. 



32 ORIGINAL LETTERS* 

and cstat in ctcmall felicite. W'tin at Bervek ye viij 
day of Septembre. 

Zour humble jhone 

L. BOTHUAILLE. 

To ye Kings Hightness. 



LETTER XIV. 



Second Letter of Xing' Henry the VI P^, to Sir Gilbert 
Talbot. A. D. 1497. 

[from the archives of THE EARL OF SHREWSRURT. OHg.] 



H. R. By the King. 

Trusty and welbeloved we grete you wele, signi- 
fying unto you that wher as Perkin Warbek and his 
wif were lately sette ful porely to the See by the King 
of Scottes, and aftre that landed within our land of Ir- 
land in the wyide Irissherie, where he had be taken 
by our Cousins Th'^erls of Kildare and of Desmond if 
he and his said wif had not secretly stollen away. 
The same Perkyn being soe upon the See, is commen 
to land in our Countie of Comewaille with ij. small 
shippes and a Breton prinse *, wherupon we have sent 

• /. pinnace. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 39 

our right trusty coiinseillour the lord Daubeney our 
<;hamberlayn by land toward thoes parties, to arredie 
our subgiettes for the subduyng of hym, and our right 
trusty counseillour the lord Broke, steward of our 
household, by water with our armee on the See now 
late retoumed, to take the said Perkyn if he retome 
Bgayn to the See. And we shall in our owne persone, 
if the case soo requir, goo soe accompanyed thiderward 
with our lordes mercy withoute delay, as we shal sub- 
due the said Perkyn and all othre that wil take his part 
if eny such be. And therfore we hertily pray you to 
addres^ you unto us with six score talle men on hors- 
back defensibly arrayed, and no moo^ without eny long 
delay. And to mete with us at our manoir of Wode- 
stok the xxiiij*** day of this present Moneth; and at 
your commyng unto us we shal soe content you for your 
and thair conduyt money, and also wages, as of reason 
ye shal holde you pleased ; and that ye faille not herof 
as our espesial trust is in you. Zeven undre* our 
Signet at our said Manoir the xijth day of Septembre.'^ 

^ *' To oar trusty and welbeloved knight 
for our body Sir GUbert Talbot." 

• The word " undre" is repeated twice in the (Nriginml. 



VOL. I. 



84 OAIGINAt LETTERS. 

LETTER XV. 

Kmg Henry Vllth io the Bishop of Bath atid Wells, 

[M8. dodsw. bibl. bodl. volj^L. fol. 80.] 

♦^* The bishop of Bath and Wells, at this time, was D^ Oliver King, 
who had been translated frona the See of Exeter in 1495. He is stated in ~ 
his epitaph to have been secretary Io Edward son of Henry the Sixth ; and 
afterwards Secretary of State to King Edward the Fourth, King Richard 
the Thiid» and King Heniy the Seventh. He died in 1503. 



By the Kinge 
Right reverend father in God, right trusty and wel- 
beloved wee greete yow well, and have received your 
wryteinge by the which wee conceive how there is word 
that Perkin is landed. Truth it is that hee is «oe landed, 
and at^ our Commons of Cprnwall take his parte, 
amongst whom on Munday last the eighteenth day of 
September there was not one gentleman. On Sunday 
the seaventeenth of September, Perkin and bis com- 
pany came afore our Citty of Excester about cHie, after 
noone ; and there inraaged themselves in the mam)<^ 
of a battell by the space of two howars. Within that 
our Citty were our couzen of Devonshire, Sir William 
Coiutney, Sir Jo. Sapcotes, Sir Piers Edgecombe, Sir 
Jo. Croker, Sir Walter Courteney, Sir Humfrey Ful- 
forth, with many other noble men both of our Counties 
of Devonshire and Comewall. This Perkin sent for 
to have deliverance of our said Citty, which was denyed 



ORIGINAL letters; 35 

unto him by our said couzen. Whereupon Perkin 
and his company went to the East gate, and to the 
Norther gate, and assaulted the same, but it was soe 
defended (blessed bee God) that Perkin lost above 
three or foure hundred men of his company, and so 
failed of his intention. On the morrow after, the 
eighteenth day, Perkin and our rebels made a new 
assidt at the said NcH-ther gate and Ester gate, like as 
by the Copy of the lettres from our said couzen of 
Devonshire inclosed yee shall moye to understand 
more at large. The Perkin and his company, if they 
come forward, shall find before them our Chamber*- 
layn, our Steward of Houshould, the Lord Saint 
Mourice, Sir John Cheney, and the Noblemen of 
South wales and of our Counties of Gloster, Wiltshire, 
Hamsbire, Somersett, said Dorcet ; and at their backe 
the garison of our said City c^ Excester. And wee 
with our hoast royall shall not be farre, with the m^cy 
of our Lord, for the finall conclusion of the matter. 
Wee have done proclaimed alsoo that who soe Inringeth 
the said Perkin on five unto us hee shall have the some 
of a thousand marks, and all those tbat give theire of- 
fences first and last. Wee trust soone to heare good 
tydings of the said Perkin. Yeoven under our Signet 
at our Mannor of Woodstocke the twentith of Sep- 
tember. 



56 OKU;iXAL LETTERS. 

LETTER XVI. 

TV Krtr*^ of fkv<}fh9hirc to King Henry the VI I^ 
\>Mi. nonsm*. bibu bodi.. vol. l. fol. 81.] 



AnriMfc UH>«t luunble recommendacion had unto your 

lie^w i^Wtist' it your Grace to knawe as I sent unto 

^v»ur tJnHV by my no other wrytemge of yesterday of 

thK? vWminin^^ i>f Perkin, and of diverse assaults made 

bv hi* K\>iu))<4ny \nito the two gates of your Citty of Ex- 

vvtit^Mrx wul of thr defence of the same. It may like 

vour i«rtHV to luulerstand further, that this mominge, 

of iH-^Wx the siiid IVrkin and his company made fresh 

afivsaullH ii^HH) ttie s^iid two gates ; and especially at the 

Nmih ^to% which was againe well and truly defended, 

:ukI put IVrkin from his purpose there ; and your said 

iiuy suirf Iv keped and shall bee to the behoofe of your 

iivacv: in sen* much as when Perkin and his com- 

^KUiv hiwi well assaid and felt our Gunns, they were 

laittc to ikwre u» to have lycence to geder theire com- 

puiiv tc^'Uer^ antl soe to depart and leave your Citty, 

suni to put ua to uoe more trouble ; which because wee 

b«c mH able to recounter them, and that our com- 

^^iu> were weary and some hurt, therefore it was 

i;r*uu>l uttU) them that they should depart, and not 

\o ji^t^coch the Citty in noe wyse. And soe the said 

^^maft ittd hk company bee departed from us this 



ORIGINAL L£TT£&S. 37 

day about eleven of the Clocke in the forenoone, aijd 
bee twelve were out of sight, and which way they 
would hould I cannot yet acertayne your Grace ; But 
as it was said amongst them they would to Colump- 
ton this night, and thanked bee God there is none of 
your true subjects about this fausines slayne, but diverse 
bee hurt. And doubt not againe, one of yours hurt, 
there is twenty of tKeires hurt and many slayne. And 
' now I understand certainly that Perkin is to Colump- 
ton, and many of his company departed from him, and 
more will as I sell well, gnd trust verely that your 
Grace shall have good tydings of him shortly. From 
Excester this Munday, next the eighteenth of Sep- 
tember. 



LETTER XVII. 



Tf^ King to 

[ms. dodsw. bibl.^odl. vol. L. foL 81.] 



By the King. 
Cod SEN trust for certaine that upon Thursday, 
about midnight, Perkin fled from his company at Tan- 
ton and tooke noe leave nor lycence of them ; a good 
number of well horsed men bene after him in every 
quarter. From Knaresburgh the five and twentith 
of September. 



58 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER XVIII. 



The Bis/wp of' Bath and Wells to Lord Carlisle. 
[ms. dodsw. voL l. foL 81.] 



My Lord 

Trust for certaine, and so the Kinge 

willed mee to wryte unto you for hast and because the 

Kinge is in greate busines, that on Thursday about 

midnight Perkin fled from his Company at the Towne 

of Tanton, and tooke noe leave nor licence of them ; a 

good number of well horsed men bene after him in 

every quarter. And thus fare you well till more ot 

these tydeings come unto you. At Woodstocke this 

morning the three and twentith day of September. 

Quoth BATHON.^ 



In addition to these Letters, it may not be irrelevant to the subject of 
them te state, that, among the Rolls belonging to the Royal Collection of 
Manuscripts in the British Museum, the Original Return of the Commis- 
sioners is still preserved, of the Fines which were levied in the Counties of 
Somerset, Dorset, M'^ilts, Hampshire and Devon, upon all persons of sub- 
stance who either in Perkin Warbeck^s last expedition, or in the Insurrec- 
tion of tlie Cornish Men, had aided or favored the insurgents. Lord Bacon 
says that the levying of these Fines was extended even to persons who had 
comforted Perkin and his followers in their flight. 

At the head we find the abbat of Athelney put down for a hundred 
marks ; the abbat of Cliff for £40 ; the abbat of Ford, £60; the abbat of 
Micliehiey £60; and Sir John Spoke of Whitlakyngton £200. The 
Citizens of Taunton collectively paid £441 6s. M. One of them was 
asticssed at £100 ; a few others, at £80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 ; and the rest* 
according to their means, as low as twenty shillings a piece. This last, 
indeed, seems to have been the fine of by far the greater number of persons 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 39 

whose names appear upon the RoU. The town of Bridgewater paid £ 1 66 . 
Thomas Champeneys Esq. of Frome paid £66 13«. 4d. The only person 
in the Hundred of Carhampton who paid, was Sir Hugh Luttrell of Dun. 
stcr, and he was assessed at £200. Olaston paid £ 428. . Kingsbury, with 
the town of Langport, £426 13*. 4d. The Town of Wells, the inhabitants 
of which are entered as they resided in the different streets, paid £313 
13*. Ad, The vicar of Milbom Port paid ten marks. The fines from die 
goods of dead persons amounted to £123 13*. 4'^. 

The total gathered in the four Counties, with a part of Devonshire, 
amounted to £9665 10*. Od. which, in the time of Henry the Seventh was 
no inconsiderable sum. Carte says, it was not raised without a general 
clamour at the severe and arbitrary proceedings of the Commissioners. 

Some of the Rebels, however, appear to have been detained as prisoners, 
till King Henry came to Exeter. 

The Rev. George Oliver, in answer to some Inquiries made by the 
editor of these Volumes at Exeter, says " I wish I was enabled to fbrward 
your researches on Perkin^s siege : but the Episcopal Registers are silent 
on the subject; and in the Town archives I find nothing, unless in Hoker^s 
Manuscript, where he says that Perkin appeared before it in September 
1 41i7 with ten thousand men ; that he burnt North Gate, and actually forced 
an entrance into East Gate as far as Castle Lane, but was gallantly repulstd 
by the Citizens with great slaughter ; that King Henry the Seventh ar- 
rived here in the winter of that year ; and that several trees in St. Peter's 
close, between the North entrance of the Cathedral Church and the Trea- 
sury, wetre cut down, that the King ^' standing in the new window of Mr. 
Treasurer's house" might see the Rebels, who came bare-headed with hal- 
t( rs about their necks before him, and cried out for mercy and pardon. The 
King addressed them in a short speech, and granted them his clemency, 
uj>on which they made a great shout, hurled away their halters, and cried 
' God save the King'." Bernard Andreas, whp has been already men- 
tioned, in his panegjrrical Hisiory of Henry the Seventh, MS. Cotton. 
Domit. A. XVIII. has given the substance of the King's speech in Latin. 



LETTER XIX. 



King Hemy Vllth to Sir William Say, 

[ms. cotton, vespas. f. XIII. foL 61. Orig.^ 

•^* This Letter presents us witli one of the latest instances of that 
barbarous state of Society, in which persons even of inferior rank to nobility 
called upon their vassals to attend them in settling their private feuds. Sir 



40 OKIGINAL L£TT£B8. 

William Say to whom it is addressed, was sheriff of Hertfordshiie and 
Essex in the 22d £dw. IV. and Ist Ric. III. by the latter of whom he was 
knighted. Sir WiUiam Say had large possessions in Hertfordshire. His 
Seat was the manor of Basse in the parish of Hoddesdon in that Comity. 



(The Kings Monogram.) By the King. 

Trusty and welbeloved, We grete you wele. And 
have herde to our great displeaser, that, for a certain 
variance and controversie depending betwix you on 
the oon partie and Sir John Fortescu on the othr, ye 
entende with unliefull* assembles and conventicles of 
our people to be at the Sessions next to be holden 
within our Countie of Hertford, tothaflraying of our 
Peas, and distourbance of the same Sessions, which we 
ne wold, in eschueing such trouble and inconvenients 
that by likelyhode might therupon ensue. Wherfore 
we write unto you at this tyme, commanding you in the 
straitest wise, that, leving the said assembles, ye forber 
to bee at the said Sessions, and neither doo ner pro- 
cure to be doon any thing there, privately or apertely, 
repugnant to the equitie of our Lawes or rupture of 
our said Peas, at your uttermost perell. And also that 
immediately after the sight hereof ye addresse you unto 
our presence, to knowe our further mynde and plea- 
sur in the premesses^ Lating you wite that we have 
writen in like wise herein to the said Sir John. Yeven 
under our Signet at our paloys of Westminster the 
xxiij day of February. 

To our Trusty and welbeloved 
Knight Sir William Say. 

• unlawful. * premises. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 41 

LETTER XX. 

Margaret Queen qfScoth/nd to her father King Henry 

the Vm 
[ms. cotton, vesp. f. xm. foL 61 b. Orig, the last nine lines 

ONLY IN THE QUEEN's HAND.] 

*,* The Ceremonies which accompanied the stately marriage of James 
the Fourth with Margaret Tudor in 1503, are too well known to need a 
cmnment here. Dunbar of Salton celebrated the Nuptials in an Allegory 
intitled ^^ The Thistle and the Rose," which is still admired as one of the 
happiest efforts of Scottish Poetry. 

Mai^ret, in plighting her faith to the Earl of Bothwell, the royal proxy 
at '^ The Fiancels," was made to say that, in contracting matrimony with 
James, she did it " wittingly and of deliberate mind, having twelve yeart 
complete in age in the month of November last past." 

The following Letter must have been written very soon after her arrival 
at Edinburgh. The scene was new, and the young Queen unhappy. 

Surrey, of whose hauteur she makes such strong complaint, was the 
nobleman whom Henry selected to accompany her to Scotland and pre. 
sent her to her husband. The same Surrey, as will hereafter be seen, 
defeated and slew him at Flodden. 



My most dere lorde and fader in the most humble 
wyse that I can thynke I recummaund me unto your 
Grace besechyng you off your dayly blessyng, and that 
it will please you to yeve hartely thankes to all your 
servauntts the whych be your commaundement have 
geven ryght good attendaunce on me at this tyme, 
and specially to all thes ladies and jantilwomen which 
hath accompeneyed me hydder, and to geflF credence 
to thys good lady the berar her oflF, for I have showde 
hyr mor off my mynd than I will wryght at thys tyme. 
Sir, I beseche your Grace to be good and gracious 



4S OEIGINAL L£TT£RS. 

lorde to Thomas, whych was footman to the Quene my 
moder, whos sowle God have soyle* ; for he hath byn 
on *> off my fotemen hydder with as great diligence and 
labur to hys great charge of his awne good and true 
mynde. I am not able to recumpence hym, except the 
favor off ydur Grace. Sir, as for newys I have none 
to send, but that my lorde of Surrey ys yn great favor 
with the Kyng her that he cannott forber the com- 
paney off hym no tyme off the day. He and the bich- 
opp off Murrey orderth every thyng as nyght^ as they 
can to the Kyngs pleasur. I pray God it may be for 
my por<i hartts ease in tyme to come. They caltiot® 
my Chamberlayne to them, whych I am sur wuU speke 
better for my part than any off them that ben off that 
consell. And iff he speke any thyng for my cause my 
lord of Surrey hath such wordds unto hym that he dar 
speke no furder. God send me comford to hys plear- 
sur, and that I and myne that ben lefftt her with me 
be well entretid such wayse as they have taken. For 
Codes sak Syr, oulde ' mea escwsyd that I wryt not 
my sylf to your Grace, for I han no layfyr thys tym, 
bot wyt^ a wishse I would I wer wyt^ your Grace now, 
and many tyms mor, wan I wold andsyr. As for thys 
that I have wrytyn to your Grace, yt ys wery tru^, bot 
I pj-ay God I may fynd yt wel for my welef • erefter. 
No more to your Grace at this tym, bot our Lord han 

*assoyle. ''one. « nigh. «» poor. •eiUlnot. 

' hold. K With. »» very true. i welfare. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 43 

you en ys kepyng. Wrytyn wyt the hand of your 
humble douter 

MARGARET. 



LETTER XXI. 



Kmff Henry the Vllth to his mother ^ Margaret Coutu 
tess of Richmond. 

{H9. harl. 7039. fol. 34. from the archives of st. John's 



\ 



COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE.] 



»^» « Hereafter,** says Baker from the College Register, " foUoweth 
the Letters of the most high and noble Prince K3mg Henre the Scvenlh, 
sende to the moste godly Princesse Margarete Countesse of Richmond and 
Derby, and Foundress of this College, by the reverend father in God John 
Fisher bishop of Rochester, then being Confessour to our said Foundress, 
for the altcratioii of her minde concerning the foundations to have been 
done in the Monastrye of Wcstmyr.ster And by the persuasions and coun. 
sell of the said reverend father, the said Princesse altered her minde, from 
the foundations in the said Monastery to the Foundationx)f Christs (College 
in this University. The tenor of which Letters foUoweth worde by worde." 



Madam, my most enterely wilbeloved Lady and 
Moder, I recommende me unto you in the most hum- 
ble and lauly wise that I can, beseeching you of your 
dayly and continuall blessings. By your Confessour 
the berrer I have reseived your good and most loving 
wryting, and by the same have herde at good leisure 
such credense as he would sliewe unto me on your 
behalf, and thereupon h&,ve spedde him in every be 
halve withowtc delai according to yowr noble petition 



44 ORIGINAL LETTERS* 

and desire, which restith in two principall po3mts : the 
one for a generall pardon for all maimer causes : the 
other is for to altre and chaunge part of a Lycense 
which I had gyven unto you before for to be put into 
mortmain at Westmynster ; and now to be converted 
into the University of Cambridge for your Soule helthe, 
&c. All which th3rngs according to your desire and pie- 
sure I have with all my4ierte and goode wille gifFen and 
graunted unto you. And my Dame, not onely in this 
but in all other thyngs that I may knowe should be to 
youre honour and plesure and weale of youre salle '^ I 
shall be as glad to plese you as youre* herte can desire 
hit, and I knowe welle that I am as much bounden so 
to doe as any creture ly vyng, for the grete and singular 
moderly love and affection that hit hath plesed you at 
all tymes to ber towards me. Wherfore myne owen 
most lovyng moder, in my most herty manner I thank 
you, beseeching you of your goode contynuance in the 
same. And Madame, your said Confessour hath more 
over shewne unto me on youre behalve that ye of 
your goodnesse and kynde disposition have gyven and 
graunted unto me such title and intereste as ye have 
or ought to have in such debts and duties which is 
oweing and dew unto you in Fraunce by ye Frenche 
Kynge and others, wherfore Madame in my most 
herty and humble wise I thanke You. Howbeit I ver- 
rayly [think] hit will be ryght harde to recover hit 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 45 

without hit be dr3rven by compulsion and force, rather 
than by any true justice which is not yet al * we thynke 
any convenyant tyme to be put in execution. Never- 
theless it hath plesed you to gyve us a good interest 
& meane if they woull not conforme thayme to ray- 
son und good justice to diffende or ofiPende at a con- 
venyant tjnme when the caas shall so require herafter. 
For such a chaunce may fait that thys your graunte 
might stande in grete stead for a recovery of our 
Right, and to make us free, wheras we be now bounde 
&c. And verrayly Madame, and I myht recover hit 
at this tjone or any other, Ye be sure ye shulde have 
your plesure therin, as I and all that God has given me ^ 
is and shall ever [be] at youre will and commaundment, 
as I have instructed Master Fisher more largely herin, 
as I doubte not but he wolle declare unto you. And I 
beseeche you to sende Ae youre mynde and plesure in 
the same, which I shall be full glad to followe with 
Goddis grace, which sende and gyve unto you the full 
accomplyshment of all youre noble and vertuous de- 
syrs. Written at Grenewiche the 17 day of July, with 
the hande of youre most humble and lovynge sonne 

H. R. 

After the wryting of thys Letter, your Confessour 
delyvered unto me such Letters and wrytings obligar- 
tory of your duties in Fraunce which hit hath plesed 

• als, as. 



46 ORICIKAL LETTERS. 

you to sende unto me, which I have received by an In- 
denture of every parcell of ye same. Wherfore eft- 
soons in my most humble wise I thank you, and I pur- 
pose hereafter, at better leisure, to knowe youre mynde 
tmd plesure further therein. Madame I have encom- 
bred you now with thys my longe wrytings, but me 
thjmgks that I can doo no less, considering that hit is 
so selden that I do wryte, wherfore I beseeche you to 
pardon me, for verrayly Madame my syghte is nothing 
so perfitt as it has ben ; and I know well hit will ap- 
payre* dayly ; wherfore I trust that you will not be dis- 
plesed though I wryte tot so often 'with myne owne 
hand, for on my fayth I have ben three dayes or I 
colde make an ende of this Letter. 
To My Lady. 



LETTER XXII. 

Margaret mottwr qf Henry the Vllth, to her Sons signr- 
ingas Queen, 

[MS. COTTON. VK8P. F. XIII. fW. 60. OHg,] 



My oune suet and most deere Kynge and all my 
worldly joy, yn as humble maner as y can thynke y 
rccommand mo to your Grace, and moste hertely be^- 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 47 

seche our lord to blesse you ; and my good herte wher 
that you sa » that the Frenshe Kyng hathe at thys tyme 
gevyn me courteyse answer and wretyn . . lettyre of 
favour to hys corte of Parlyment for the treve expedi- 
cyon of my mater whyche soo long hathe hangyd, the 
whyche y well know he dothe ' especially fbr your 

sake, for the whyche my ly beseeche your 

Grace yt ........ to gyve hjon your favourabyll 

thanks and to desyr hym to contenew hys 

. . . yn . e . me . And, yeve yt soo myght leke ^ your 
Grace, to do the same to the Cardynall, whyche as I 
understond ys yotir feythfuU trew and lovyng servant. 
Y wysse my very joy, as y efte have shewed, and y 
fortune to gete thys or eny parte therof, ther shall 
nedyr be that or en^ good y have but yt shalbe yours, 
and at your comaundement as seurly and with as good 
a wyll as eny ye have yn your cofyrs, as wuld God ye 
cowd know yt as veryly as y thynke yt. But my der 
herte, y wull no more encombyr your Grace with fer- 
der wry tyng yn thys matter, for y ame seure your chape- 
leyn and servante Doctour Whytston hathe shewed 
your Hyghnes the cyreomstance of the same. And 
yeve yt sck> may plese your Grace, y humbly beseche 
the $aine to yeve ferdyr credense also to thys bo'er. 
And Our "Lard gyve you as loage good lyfe, helthe, 
and joy, as your moste nobyll herte can dessyre, with as 
herty blessyngs as our Lord hathe gevyn me power to 



48 OEIGINAL LETTEES. 

gyve you. At Colynweston » the xiiij*'* day of Janu- 
ary^ by your feythfuU trewe bedwoman, and humble 
modyr, 

MARGAEET R. 



LETTER XXIII. 



The Contents of the King's Lettres sent by His Grace to 
the Pope's Hohfnes^ concemyng proviswn to be made 
to resiste the malicious disposidon qfthegrete Turke^ 
enemy to the Cristenjaith. An. 17 Hen. VII^*". 
[ms. cottok. cleof. e. m. fol. 160.] 

•,• Lord Bacon, who gives an extract of two or tfiree lines only from the 
latter part of this Letter, in his History of Henry the Seventh, characterizes 
it as ''more solemn than serious." In another place he says '' and yet this 
Declaration of the King (as superficial as it was) gave him that reputation 
abroad, as he was not long after elected, by the Knights of Rhodes, Fro- 
tector of their Order ; all things multiplying to honour in a Prince that 
had gotten such high estimation for his wisdom and sufficiency." But the 
wisdom of Henry's character, as this Letter will show, was cunning. 



FuRST his Highnesse reherseth the contents of the 
Breve sent from our holie fader the Pope unto hym, 
bering date the third day of November last past, the 
which Breve the King's Grace rece)rved with suche 
reverence as be came hym to doo, and understode by 
the same Breve the greate parell that the commen 

• In Northamptonshire. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 49 

welth of the Cristen feith by werre made by the said 
Turke stond in, and daily is like to stond in moore, yf . 
short remedie be not provided. 

And for provision in this behalf the Popes Holy- 
nesse hath named certeyn Legats to be sent to all 
Cristen Princis, and to cause suche Princes as be in 
dissencion, division, or variaunce, to be in love, peax ', 
and unite, and suche peax * and unite had, the said Le- 
gats to entre communication and take conclusions with 
the said Princes, how and in what maner and fourme 
it shulde be best to withstond the said Turke. 

And also that the said Legats, shulde have auctorite 
to publisshe jubilee, and to rece)rve subsidies and 
dismes in suche Roymes and Countrees as they shuld 
be sent to, by the which subsidies and dismes the Wer 
ayenst the Turk'myght be maynteyned and contynued. 

Also our holie fader the Pope sheweth in his Breve 
that he, of his goode mynde, with the uttermoost of his 
goods, and his brothem the Cardenalls in like wise with 
their goods, will doo all that in theym is to withstonde 
the malice of the said Turke ; and, ferthermore in de- 
fence of the Cristen feith, our said holie fader the Pope, 
of his entire and blissed mynd, so that he may have a». 
sistence of the King of Spayne or the King of Fraunce 
in their persones, will goo in his owen propre person 
to oppresse the greate and moost cruell malice of the 
same Turke. 

» peace. 
VOL. I. E 



50 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Also the Pope writeth of the tripartite Warre that 
Jiis Highnesse hath decreed and determyned ayenst 
the said Turk, and how theHungaries, Boyams% and 
the Polans *", the which shall make werre by land ayenst 
the said Turk, shall have ayde in money of the Princes 
of Italic and other that may not personally be in the 
said Warres, the whiche discrete ordinaunce and pro- 
vision the King's Highnesse right well considereth, 
marketh, and commendeth. 

Ferthermore the same our holy fader hath requyred 
and desired the Kings Grace, that, seing yf remedie be 
not had this wynter the Turke is like next somer to 
be in the parties of Italic to the subversion of Cristen 
feith, to call the Nobles of this lond to gidders ° without 
delay, and to understand their mynde in this behalf. 
And the Pope is Hol3niesse thinketh it right according, 
that the King in his person, with Navy convenyent, 
yeve his assistence ayenst the Turke in his partie, and 
desireth the Kings Grace to be certified spedely, 
when, in persone, with what Navy, and in to what 
place he will applie. 

Here hegynneth the King's aunswer to the Contents 
of the Pope's Breve. 

The Contents of the Premisses ppn^^^red, 
the Kings Grace hath be, is, and allway wlbe {^^ sorie 
as any Cristen Prince that the Turke shul^ eny thing 

• BoJicmians. »» Polanders. « U^ether. 



ORIGINAL letters; 51 

attanpt ayenst the Cristen Religion, and willeth and 
desireth as moche as any Cristen Prince, that the same 
Turke may be so at this tyme withstand, rebuked, and 
punysshed, that he ne noon of his successours shall 
dare hereafter so temerously any th3mg attempt ayenst 
the Cristen feith. The King considering that the 
malice of the Turke and jeopefdie of the Cristen feith 
is at hand, gretely commendeth the singular wisdom 
of our holy fadre the Pope, ift causyng peax * and unitie 
to be inade am(»igs the Cristen Princes which be at 
discention and division, which discencions and divi- 
fflons hath yeven the Turke greate boldnesse to at- 
tempt the Warre ayenst the same Cristen feith. Albe 
it the Kings Grace is, and of long tyme hath be, 
thanked be God, at peax a with all Cristen Princes. 

Ferthermc»re the King*s Grace considering that the 
P^pe, in his owen person, having the assistence of the 
Kkig of Fraunce or the King of Spayne, entendeth 
to goo ayenst the said Turke and to jeopard his lif, 
tlmketh his highnes worthy grete thanks of God and 
m»i ; for asmoche as he had lever offer hym self to 
the jeoperdie of werre to suf&e deth, then to see the 
Crislen feith in jeopardie, in th^t following thexample 
ef Criste whos place he oocupieth here in erthe. And 
sopie the King'^s Highnesse is that he, seing the di- 
staunce of his Reyme from thos parties may not coiir 



e2 



52 OKIGINAL LETTERS. 

veniently with his Navy and power, in so holy a pur- 
pose, yeve assistence according to his mjmde. 

Also the Kings Grace gretely commendeth his two 
Cosyns, Kings of Fraunce and Spayne, and specyally 
hjrm that will yeve personall assistence unto the Popes 
Holjmesse in this behalf. And it is to be thought 
that oon of them myght yeve better assistence in this 
cause then eny other Prince, seing that they both have 
navies, maisters, and mariners knowing the jeopardies 
of thos sees, and accustumed to saille to thos parties, 
and more expert then the subjects of any other Princes 
being in further parties, and not accustumed to sail to 
thos parties. And also that the assistence of thos ij. 
Princes may be yeven with lesse than half the charge 
of other Princes may, being in further parties. 

Item, Warre to be made bylond by the Germayne's, 
Hungaries, Boyams*, and Polons** ayenst the said 
Turke, the Kings Grace greatly commendeth, seing 
that they be best acqueynted and expert in faicts of 
werre and fraudis of the said Turkes, and also be nygh 
unto theym and may doo to theym moche noiaunce, 
and with lesse coste and charge then other nacions. 

And where the Popes Holynesse desireth to know 
the Kings mynde, with what Navie, and at what tyme 
he will personally come to resiste the said Turks ma- 
lice. 

• Bohemians. ^ Polanders. 



OHIGINAL LETTERS. S3 

The Kings Grace sheweth that he hadi as goode 
zde and love to the diflfence of the Cristen feith as any 
Prince lyvyng : and, according to the tenour of the 
Popes brief hath called the nobles of this land, asweU 
spirituell as temporaU, being of his Ck)unseil in this 
behalf, the which Counsaillours after long communi- 
cacion and greate resonyng, thought that if the King 
i^ulde send any help or Navy by the See it shulde 
Ktle proufBte, considering the ferre distance of thos 
parties so to be besegied, troubled, or obsessed by the 
said Turke; and also the Englisshe maryners have 
not ben accustumed to sail any forther but to Pyses 
which is not half the Jomey for it is vj. or vij. monethes 
sailjmg from Pises to thos parties where they myght 
do the Turke any noyance ; and so all the cost doon 
by See shulde litle or nothing proficte in this behalf. 

Item, the said Counseillours say that the Galees 
commyng from Vennes towards England be com- 
monly vij. monethes sailyng, and som tyme more. Also 
they say that if soo be the King shuld send from Jiis 
Royame his Navie by the see, the men being in the 
same shuld nede twise or thries vitailling or they shuld 
come where they shuld applie, and yet then peradven- 
ture they shuld applie where no socour wold be had. 
And also the said shippes myght be sore troubled 
with contrarie wyndes, so that they shuld not com to 
doo any goode in this greate cause: and also con- 
sidering the greate stormes and perilles of the see 



5^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

wliich coinonly fortune and happe, and parteth ship|:>es 
and driveth theyra to severall coosts, and twiseth theym 
often tymes to perisshe, and soo there shuld be grete 
costs and chargies doon by the King, and yet noo 
noysaunce therby doon. to the said Turk. 

Yf ther shulde be any noumbre of Shippes and 
men, and suche as were according to the Kings honour, 
sent for the said expedjcion, yet considering the distance 
of his Rialme and the nyghnes oi their Roiahnes, the 
Kings costs and charges, albe it thei shuld be very 
large, shuld appere ferre lesse then the chargies of the 
other princes being nerer thos parties, the which myght 
with ferre lesse cost send ten thousand then the Kings 
Grace two thousand. 

Item, if the King shuld prepaire capitaignes and 
other men of warre, and apparaill, and habilyments, 
and necessai-ies to the said Shippes, it shuld be May, 
whatsoever diligence were doon on the Kings partie, 
or they should be readie to saill : and it shuld be the 
last ende of Septembr or the said Shippes shuld passe 
the streits of Marrok^; and grete diiScultie to fynde 
any maryners hable to take the rule and govemaxice 
of the said Shippes sailyng into so jeoperdous and 
ferre parties. The premisses considered it is hard and 
almost not faisible to send any Navy thidder for any 
profict by theym to be doon therin. 

The Kings Highnesse gretly sorowelh^ and moore 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 55 

then he can expresse, that in so laudable and holy 
£xpedicion he can not yeve the Popes Holynes so 
profictable assistence by the See as his mynde is, 
thinking that for warre to be made by the see, oonly 
oon Prince heede ruler and governor of grete auctorite, 
power, name, dignite, police*, and wisdom is to be 
adjoyned to the Popes Holynesse in this behalve, to 
the which Prince all other Princes, after according and 
oonyenient rates in this behalve may be contributorie : 
and best it were to have not many rulers and gover- 
nours; for where be many hedes and governours, 
oftentymes ther is moche distance, divisions, and de- 
bats. 

And yf it should please his Cosyn the King of 
France, or his Cousyn and afFyne" the King of Spayne, 
to take the charge of soo holy an Expedicion, con- 
sidering the commodities of Ports, Navies, and vitaiU 
which the said Princes have plentie of, and the nerenes 
of dyvers Isles unto the said Turkes, ther is no 
Prince so convenient as oon of the said Princes. 

And to that Prince of the said Princes that will 
take upon hym and with effect and good diligence 
will resiste the said Turke, the King both with men 
and money metely and conveniently for his partie wol 
yeve assistence, other Princes, not personally being 
present to the said Expedicion in likewise doeng their 
parte and being contributory. And also the King of 

• policy. •» relation. 



56 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Romayns, Hungry, Bohom, and Polon, in like maner 
effectually making Warre by land ayenst the said 
Turkes. 

Furthermore yf nother of the said Kings of Fraunce 
and Spayne woll take upon hym the charge to yeve in 
propre person assistence to the Poprfs Holyness, the 
King, for greate love, zele, and goode mjrnde that he 
bereth to the Religion of Cristes feith and to his Vicar 
here in erthe, seing that the Popes Holynes hath of- 
fred to goo ayenst the Turke in his owen person rather 
then his Holynesse shuld be left sole and destitute of 
assistence of other Cristen Princes, to the grete sclaundei* 
and jeopardie of all Cristen feith, and to the.note and 
reproche of Cristen Princes, the Kings Grace albe it 
that his* further from thos parties then other Princes 
be, and also that his costs by reason of suche femesse 
shuld be gretter then other Princes shuld, yet, having 
a sufficient space to prepaire him self to soo long a 
Journey, is contented in his own propre persone, jaiid 
with armye according, to take upon hym the said 
charge, to come personally and joyne with the Popes 
said Holynes yf the same Pope woll personally goo 
ayenst the said Turke. And the King, during the 
Werre, so to continue according to his rate. 

Provided that the Popes Holynes shall assigne a 
certeigne and a sure Porte to the whiche the. Kings 
Grace with his armye may comme and also shall pro- 

•is. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 67 

vide sufficient Navy, maisters, and maryners, armours 
and habilitaments of warre and vitail, and all other 
necessarie thinges, to receyve the said King and al his 
people, and aU his and their stuff and cariage, and for 
the contynuance of the same as long as the King and 
his army shall have nede therof. 

Item, that the said Kings of Fraunce and Spayne 
and aU other Princes cristened, which may not per- 
sonally comme according to their states and dignitees, 
be in this behalf contributory, partilie in men, and par- 
tily in money. And also the Pope shal provide that 
the Kings Grace and all his Armee shall have sure and 
free Jorneyng and passing by all lordshipes, citees, 
townes, fortresses, castells and other places, whatso- 
ever they be, and all maner of places to be oppen to 
the said King and his armee, and sufficiente vitail and 
other necessaries to be mynistred to the said Kyng and 
his Oste. And also that the Kyng of Romaynes with 
his armee by land, and the Kings of Hungry, Bohom, 
and Polon, according to the decre of the Popes Holy- 
nesse, begynne to warre ayenst the said Turk, and soo 
all the said Kings and eche of the3an, with their suf- 
ficient armyes, contynue with effect in the said Warres, 
and in noo wise ceasse theym without expresse assent 
of the Popes Holynes and the Kings expresse consente. 

Item, it is thought to the King necessarie that during 
the said Werre ayenst the Turke, all Cristen Princes 
put aparte^ divisions, discensions, debates, and warres, 



68 OaiGINAL LETTERS. 

and deferre theym unto odre tymes, and the moyne* 
tyme to surceasse of all assauts, injuries, [and] hosti- 
lities, and suerlie and feithfuUy keap peax** and Concorde 
amongs theym self, the which thing cannot be doon but 
only by the Popes power and auctorite. 

Item, the Kings Grace remembreth a clause in the 
Brief which the Popes Holynes sent to hym, wherin 
was conteyned that the Pope entended to send a Le- 
gate to dyvers Roialmes and Countrees for certen 
aides, jubilees, and dymes to be pubUshed, the which 
Legacie the Popes Holynesse for dyvers reasonable 
and urgent causes hath revoked, which revocacion the 
Kings Grace thinketh not unproufitable. 

Item, whether the King for the said Exp^cion in 
his person goo ayenst the said Turke, or be contribu- 
tc»*y to such Princis as shall goo, it is thought expe- 
dient that the Popes Hol3messe comaund the said aide, 
jubilees, and dymes to be publisshed by his vicecoUect- 
our and other suche as shalbe d^uted by hjrm in to 
this Roialme, which thing unto so greate a bourden 
and charge to be borne and mayntened ^lall ndt be a 
little proufitable. 

Item, the Kings Grace trusteth that the Pope of his 
singuler wisdom will banagnly admitte the Kings said 
causes and reasones. as lawful, and his said Officers 
egalUe'^jbo ponder, and not to think the King in his be- 
half to seche** any colerable occasions or excuses, but 

• mean. * peace. « equally. ^ seek. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 59 

to be as redie to the defense of Cristen faith as any 
Prince cristenned. And in this behalf nother to spare 
good, richesse, nor men, nor yet his own propre per- 
son yf it be nede, nother in noo wise it shall stond by 
the King asfer* as in hym lieth, but that this expedi- 
tion ayenst the said Turk, to the lande of God and 
holie Churche, and to the defence of the Universall 
feith shall procede with effecte, and so contynue till 
suche tyme as it shall pleas al myghty God to yeve 
the Victorie ayenst the Enmyes of his said Feith and 
Religion, and in this quarrell Cristes Baners to be 
spradde ayenst the said Turkes. 

• as far. 



LETTERS 

or 
THE REIGN OF 

HENRY THE EIGHTH. 



A detailed Character of King Henry the Eighth would be misplaced 
hats. liCt It sufRce to say that Fuller has ascribed to him both the vurtues 
and the vices of all the Kings his predecessors from the Conquest ; and 
that, in a greater or a less degree, most of these will be found developed in 
the Letters of Henry and his Courtiers. 

Fox the martyrologist, bishop Burnet, Strjrpe, and several other of our 
Historians, have made great use of the Letters written in this reign, as far 
as they relate tocnuRCH hist ort. These have, of course, been avoided 
in the present Collection. But an assemblage of some interest will be found 
in it, of such as illustrate detached parts of the civil history of that pe- 
riod. In some of these Letters the magnificent manners of Henry*s reign 
are depicted in glowing colours : in others, Henry*s conversations with 
his ministers carry us, as it were, personally back to the very time in which 
they lived. A few unpublished Letters will also be found, in this part of 
the Collection, fVom the elegant pen of Sir Thomas More. 

The PORTRAIT of HENRY THE EIGHTH which forms the 
Frontispiece of tko present Volum?^ is taken from an HliiqiiBi^on in a 
Psalter which formerly belonged to him, now preserved among the Royal 
Manuscripts in the British Museum, ms. reo. 2 a. xvi. The King, in 
allusion to his great fondness for music, is represented in it pla]ring on a 
harp ; the figure in ftont, to his left, is that of Will Somen his jester. 

Thb Psalter was written expressly for Henry the Eighth by John Mai- 
lard, who in the dedication calls himself '' Regis Orator et a calamo.*' In 
the margin are numerous pencil notes in Henry's own hand. 

There is another Illumination in this Psalter in which the King is like- 
wise represented playing on a Harp in his chamber : but it has received 
much injury fVom time and the Mlure of the colours. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 63 



LETTER XXIV. 

King James the Fourth of Scotland to King Henry the 

Eighth, 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. III. foL 36. Or%g,\ 

•,♦ The opening oi the reign of Henry the Eighth seemed to afford a 
pioniise that the Amity which Henry the Seventh had taken such pains in 
his latter years to cement with Scotland, would continue undisturbed. The 
alliance indeed was ratified, and, as appears ftom the following Letter of - 
James the Fourth, Henry had written once, at least, in a style of apparent 
affection with his own hand. This was probably before, or about, 1511 : 
for, in that year, James, whose confidence in his brother-in-law seems to 
have been gradually declining, complained openly by his ambassadors, first 
of onkindness, and then of injustice. 



^ Eftee owr mast* hartly recommaidacion derrest 
broder and cosyng**, We have ressauit zour lovyng 
Lettirs wirtyn*' with zowr hand^ quare throw we on- 
derstand good and kynd hart ze here on to us, of the 
quilk we ar ryeht glade consideryng our tendemes of 
blode. God willyng we sal here the sam good hart 
on to zow, the quilk ze sal parsave indeide, geve it 
plesur zow to scharg us, as knawith our Lord qua 
have zow in his kepyng. At our Abba of the Holy 
Croys the xj. da of Jun with the il hand of zowr Cossyng 

James R. 



i> cousin. 



C4 OSIGIXAL LCTTEmS. 

LETTER XXV. 
Margaret Queen qfScoOand to King Henry VIW 

[mS. COTTOir. CXLIG. B. TI. filL 74. Onff.] 

%* Themjasdoewludi JamesdieFoaitfaeoinplunedofondiepntof 
Hcnrj, was not mnfinrd to die a&ir ot die Bntoni. Hcmj die Scfcnlh 
had left his dau^ter 3IaigaRt a lafaiahle kgacj of jewtb; but it wa» 
widihdd bj Hcnrj die EighdL 

In die Copy of King Hcnrj die Sercndi^s Wm pafalished b J Mx. Afltks» 
no ndi legacy certainly ocom ; bat it is noticed in difl&fcnt pi^en and 
public docnmenta, and there can be no doabt diat ndi a bequest was made; 
thongfa whether as sapplementary to die Will, or by any Tcriial aDotment^ 
does not appear. 

The lifter here introduced, in which auction and irony are most 
amusingly blended, is dated April the 11th, and from die comparison cih 
with Dr. West*s despatches, must have been written in 1513. In a de- 
spatch to King Henry die Eighth, dated from Steding Aindl 1st that year. 
Dr. West, mentioning his conversation widi Queen Margaret, after dinner 
on the Saturday preceding, says, ^ And therewidi she asked if your Oiaoe 
had tend her Legacie, and I said yea, which I was redy to deliver her, soo 
that the Kyng wolde promyse to kepe die Treatie of peas ; and she asked 
' And not ells* ? and 1 said no, for if he wolde make werr Your Orace wolde 
not only withholde that, but also take from diejrm the best Townes they hade. 
And or I had frilly fynyshed this sentence, the K3rng came upon us, and 
soo we broke communication for that tyme.** The Letter now before the 
Reader appears to have been die consequence of this Conversadon. 



RiCHT excellennt, richt hie and mithty Prince, our 
derrest and best belovit Brothir, We commend ws 
unto zow in oure maist hertlie wise. Zoure ambassa- 
doure Doctoure West deliverit ws zoure lovyng let- 
trez in Iquhiwis* ze schew ws that quhare ze harde of 
our seiknes ze tuke grete hevynes. Deerest brother 
We ar greitly rejosit that we se ze have respect to oure 

• which. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 65 

disese, and thairfor We geve zou oure hartlie thankis, 
and zoure writing is to ws gude confort. We can 
nocht beleve that of zoure mynd or be zoure command 
we are sa friendly delt with in oure faderis Legacy, 
quharof we wald nocht have spokyn nor writing* had 
nocht the Doctoure now spokyn to ws of the sammyn 
in his credence. Oure husband knawis it is withhaldin 
for his saik, and will recompens ws safer** as the Doc- 
toure schew him. We ar eschamit thairwith ; and 
wald God nevir word had bene tharof. It is nocht 
worth sic estimacioun as is in zoure divers lettrez of 
the sammjm ; and we lak na thing ; our husband is 
evir the langer the better to ws, as knawis God, quha 
richt hie and michty Prince, oure derrest and bestbe. 
lovit brothir, have zou in govemaunce. Geven under 
oure Signete at oure Palace of LinlithgV the xj day 
of Aprile. 

To the richt excellennt richt Your lowynn syster 

hie and michty Prince oure MARGARET, 

derrest and best belovit bro- , 
tbir the King of England. 



LETTER XXVI. 

Dr. Nicholas West to Kmg Henry the Eighth. 

[ms. cottok. calio. b. VI. fol. 69. OrigJ\ 

♦,♦ The following is the second of two Letters, still extant from D'. 
Nicholas West, afterwards bishop of Ely, whom Henry the Eighth had 

• written. ,. *» »o far. 

VOL. I. I*' 



66 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

sent to Scotland in die hope of detaching James from the French interest. 
A short quotation from the first of these has heen ahready given in the 
introduction to the preceding Letter. James, it is evident &om the tenor 
of hoth, feared that his own fate would he consequent on any great over, 
throw of the French. The details which this Letter contains, of D'. West's 
interviews with James the Fourth, and more particularly of the state of 
the only fleet which Scotland ever fitted out, will be read with inteiest. 



Please it yo*^ Grace, Sir, on Saturday the second 
day of April the Kyng appointed to depeche me, and 
soo I purposed to have taken my leyf and departed if 
I had not receved zo^ moost honorable lettres dated at 
Grenewiche the xxvj. day of Marche last past, whertiy 
I perceved your Graced mynde was that I shulde 
make myn abode here till I had ascertaigned you by 
my writing of his resolute answer, which IJiave done 
by my last lettres. And albeit I have ever sithetts 
sued diligently for my defpeching, yet I ooude never 
obtaign it, for they dryve me foorthe with wcx^ I 
have also sued to see the minute of such lettres as he 
wold send to your Grace, and when I sawe theym 
there was never a worde in thejnmt touching the keyp* 
yng of the Peas ; but all words of unkyndenesse doon 
to hym by yo*" Grace and yo' subgiets. And when 
I perceved his mynde I said I wolde beyr yo'^ Grace 
no suobe lettres^ aeyng tha,t in theym there was no 
mencion of any thyng that touched my charge : wher- 
fore I prayed hym that he wold declar his mynde, in 
writing, touching the kepyng of the peas, and he said 
that he wolde not, forsomuch as yo^ Grace said that 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 67 

his worde and dede agreed not; therfore he wold 
write you no such words, but he wo]de shewe you 
good deeds like as he had shewed me befor ; and I 
said that I wold not depart with such writing, and 
bicause Lknewe that he wolde be at Edinburghe on 
Monday next after, I said I wolde wayte upon his 
Grace ther, trusting that he wolde othrewise advyse 
hymself by that tyme ; and the Secretorie advised me 
800 to do. 

Item, Sonday I came to Edinburghe and imme- 
diately I wrote lettres to my Lord Dacre and to the 
Commissioners of the bordres shewyng theym in what 
state every thyng stode here ; and how the Kyng^ 
wolde no way take but have justice. I sent theym 
also the copie of such clauses as wer in yo<^ Graces 
last lettres touching their charges wherby they might 
understand yo' pleasor and folowe the saine. 

Item on Monday bicause I had no businesse for a 
passe tyme I went down to Lyth* to thentent to see 
wlmt shyps were prepared ther, and when I came 
thidre I found none but ix. or x. smtdl tofmien'', 
amongest whom the shyp of Lynne was the byggest, 
and other small balyngiers^ and crayers^, and never 
one of all thies was rigged to the werr, but one little 
topman of theburdon of threscore tonne. And &om 

• Leith. «> Ships with tops, 

e Fioiamrt and Walsingham both mention the species of ships called balangers: 
but the kind is not accurately described. A Manuscript in the Heralds' Office quotM 
In Jamieson's Etymological Dictionary mentions " Galees Horqu^es, Ballinjem, et 
autres.** * A crayer, or crear, was a kind of bark, or lighter. 

F 2 



bo ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

thens I went to the new haven, and ther lyeth the 
Margaret, a sliip nighe of the burdon of the Cryst of 
Ljmne, and many men workyng upon her, som setting 
on her mayn top and som calkyng her above water, 
for under water she was new talowed. Ther was also 
upon the stocks a Utell galey in makyng, about fyfty 
fote longe as I suppose, which they said the Kyng 
made to rowe up and down upon the water to and 
from Strivilynge: ther is never a boorde yet upon 
her, nor never a man wrought upon her when I was 
ther. The same night the Kyng came to Edinburgh, 
and the next day, Tuysday, was all day at Lyth, and, 
as it was said, he oommaunded Wylly Brounchyll to 
take his prisoners and goo to the borders and make 
redresse according to thappointment made bitwixt the 
Commissioners bifor, and soo that day I coude not 
speke with the Kyng. 

Item, the same Tuyseday, bitwixt vj. and vij. of clok 
at night, I receved lettres from my Lord of Duresm 
contaignyng very good newes, which wer to me, and 
to all othre your trewe subgietts so joyous and com- 
fortable that I can not expresse it. I received also 
from my said Lord of Duresm a copie of the Popes 
most honnorable and lovyng brief sent to your Grace. 

Item, Wednesday at x. of the clok I went to Holy^ 
rode house, wher the Kyng herd masse in a chapell 
withoute any traverse*, and ther I shewed hym 

• A traverse was a retired seat with lattice-work. 



ORIGIKAL LETTERS. 69 

your said good newes at lenght, and when he herd 
tlieym he said your Grace was fortunate that ye had 
such a Pope soo favourable to yo*^ Highnesse, and 
that was entred the Lige. Howbeit I forbare at that 
tyme to shewe hym the clause of the confirmacion of 
th'acts doon by his predecessor agaynst hym and his 
realm in case he breyke with your Grace, till I may 
see determinately how he wole order hymself in every 
behalf toward yo^ Grace. And hence my small de- 
peche in every thyng. And then, according to the 
same as I thynke it expedient, I wole make overture 
to hym of it, or ells concyle it still. And amongest 
othr communication he talked of his greate Shyp, for 
the which I made sute according to your Graces 
commandement ; howbeit he aunswered as bifor, apd 
then he said that she shott xvi pitts of greate orde- 
naunce on every syde; and that he had mor greate 
ordenaunce in her then the Frenshe Kyng ever had 
to the siege of any town ; which me thought to be a 
greate crak. Moreover he said that De la Mote was 
taken by your subgietts, or ells he was with the 
Frenshe flete, for he was laden with biscuyte and 
bere, redy to com forthe when Jok a Barton came 
away, which is more than iij. wok agoo. Finally I 
made sute to hym for my departing, prayeng hym to 
put his aunswer in writing, and he said he wolde cause 
the minute to be made at after none, and send it to 
me to loke upon it. Howbeit he did not soo, but 
dryveth me forthe till he may here tuydyngs by De 



70 ORIGINAL LETTEK8. 

la Mote oute of Fraunce. Sir the buyscuyte and bere 
that De la Mote biyngeth is to vitaill the greate Shyp 
and othe^*. I praye God he be, or may be taken by 
the waye ; for his takyng were worth to your Grace x. 
thousand marks ; for by hym ye shuld knove all the 
secrets of the Kyng here. 

Item, on Thursday I made sute likewise for my let- 
tres and depeching, and I am driven forth as bifor. 
Also this day was caryed oute of the Castell to the 
water syde a greate piece of ordenaunce of iij. yerds 
longe and mor, unstocked, which shoteth a ston byg- 
ger then a greate peny lof as I am informed. I send 
to Lyth to know whyder she was caryed, and my mes- 
sengier shewed me that she was layd upon the water 
syde, and v. smaller pieces mor to be layd in to the 
said Marguerite. 

Item, Friday I made like sute for my depeching, 
and he aunswered me that the Secretorie shuld brynge 
the minute of my lettres at after none, and so he did, 
which contaigned almost nothing touching my charge, 
but compla3mts and sharpe words of unkyndnesse, 
and then we fell in to debating of diverse matiers 
which wer to longe to write; but amongest othr 
thyngs he said that the last Brief sent to the Kyng 
his maister from the late Pope Julius, hath doon more 
harm touching kyndenesse and amytie bitwixt your 
Grace and hym then all the ambassadors that ever 
came oute of Fraunce. And as touchinge the same 
poynte the Kyng said ones to me, if the Pope had 



OAIGINAL LETTE»3. 71 

levyd, and ther had been but iij. busshops that had 
kepte a Counsell, he wolde have been with theyni 
against the Pope. Howbeit I suppose it was but a 
crak; but I replyed to it and shewed according to 
myn Instructions in what daungiers and great incon- 
veniences he shuld put hymself and his reahn, and 
subgietts, in soo doyng, but he regardid it nothyng. 
Albeit I had shewed the same to hym diverse tymes. 
And fynally by the communication that I had with 
the said Secretorye, which doothe all with his mais- 
ter, I perceived clierly that I shuld have non othr 
aunswer then I had, nor yet he wold write to your 
Grace non othrwise. And I said to hym that when 
your Grace and your Counsaill shuld here and under- 
stand by my reaport that he wold not othrewise clierly 
aunswer, nor yet put the same in writinge, ye might 
and wold right well perceyve that his maister ment 
not well. Howbeit he said undoubtedly he wold not 
breke, soo he might have justice, without it began of 
your Grace. And when I perceived this his resolute 
mynde and aunswer, as it had been said divers tymes 
bifor by diverse, that when we had nede of theym we 
wold make importunate sute, and when we had no 
nede we sette nought by theym, but did theym dl 
harm and displeasor we coude. And albeit that I 
had aunswered theym in that poynte that ther was no 
sute made for Peas, but the sute that was made was 
to knowe if the Kyng their maister wolde kepe his 



72 OftlGINAL L£TTEBS. 

othe, promys, and fayth that he had made to kcpe 
the Peas, therfcNr roe thought it no honoraMe to jour 
Grace that I shuld make any farther sute in thB ma- 
tier ; and fnially I prayed the Secretorie that I nd^ 
have the next day such Lettres as the Kyi^ wold 
write to your Grace that I might take my kyf and 
depart, and he said he would do the hest he ooude. 

Item, Saturday I came to the Court and taryed for 
the Kyng in the Chapell, and about xij. of the dok 
he came in and immediately called me to hym, when 
I prayed hym eftsones to write his aimswer, and he 
said that for ij. causes which he had shewed me faifore 
he wold not ; furst was for fear that he shuld lose the 
Frenshe Kyng if he wrote so playnly, second bicause 
your Grace said his words and deds agreed not. As 
to the furst I said that he feared to much' the losse of 
the Frenshe Kyng, for he shuld rather fear to lose 
your Grace for diverse causes that I had shewed hym 
bifor, and morover if the Frenshe Kynge ayded hym 
with all his power, yet coud he not perform his greate 
w*Y«ge withoute your Grace stode his good broder, 
%^iKk he confessed, but he said that all the world 
4Htt<l two^fc'e in what cause he went, and therfor if ye 
int ittty thing to hym then it shuld not be honorable, 
v^;V\l> t i\^|Jy«1 upon hym, sayeng that all the world 
v\4v^ i^Hifr ^vHir Grace went in the Churches cause, 

vg, liMiiiWH* Uko maner it wer not honorable for hym 
vv -'^^ UvvttA^ iigiiinst your Grace, and he answerd 



oeiginal lettkks. 73 

that thoughe he flaterd you not with words yet your 
Grace shulde fynde goode deeds ; for wher they that 
spake fayr to your Grace and gaf you not the best* 
counsel! wold peradventur deceve you, he would ra- 
ther dee* with you then see your Grace tiike any 
dishonor : and therwith the busshop of Galaway, Dean 
of the Chapell, ascertaigned hym that it was past none, 
and then he toke me by the arm and went in to a 
chamber, and I said to hym Sir, sithe your Grace wol 
aunswer nor doo non otherwise then ye have said, 
and I that have no farther charge I beseche you gif 
me licence to depart, and he said with good wyll, 
and soo I toke my leyf for the consideracions above 
writen, And then he said I must goo see the Queue 
and the Prince at Lythg^ for she had ordened tokens 
for your Grace and for the Queue : and I answered 
that I was right well contented soo to doo if it wer 
his pleasor. 

Item, on Sonday afternone I rode to Lythg** and 
came thider by iiij . of clok at after none, and assone as 
I was comon Her Grace sent for me by Sir John Sen- 
der, which brought me to her Graxje, and at my furst 
commeng she asked of me what aunswer I had ; and I 
said that even as I had bifor, and that he wold not put 
it in writing, and she said that he was feard that it 
shulde be shewed in France, and I aunswerd that 
then he stode in greate awe of France, if he durst not 

• die. 



74 OHIGINAL LETTEKS. 

shewe in writing that he wold kepe that thyng that he 
was sworn to for fear of Fraimce : and also your Grace 
wold never shew it thoughe he wrote, soo that he 
wold kepe his promyse: and she aunswerd that she 
was right sory that he wold not othrewise doo, for 
now your Grace was in the right and he in the wronge. 
Howbeit she said she had done the best that was in 
her power, and soo wold contynue, and without far- 
ther communication of her Legacye or any other ma- 
tier she delivered me tokjms to your Grace, to the 
Queue, and the Princesse, and prayed me to recom- 
mend her to your Grace; and socPI toke my leyf. 
And she commaunded me to be brought to see the 
Prince, and so I was ; veryly he is a right fayr chyld, 
and a large of his age. 

Item, Monday I retomed to Edinburghe, and made 
sute for Lettres to your Grace, shewyng thejnn that I 
wold depart the next day, Tuysday. Howbeit I coude 
not have the said Lettres till the sayd Tuysday night, 
which had, because I sawe his mynde soo frowardly 
sette, and that my longer sute coude not avayle, I de- 
parted towards your town of Berwyke this Wednesday 
in the momeng. 

Item, in communyng with the Kyng diverse tymes 
I rehersed the inconvenients that might ensue in case 
he broke with your Highnesse, and amongest othr 
how it might cause your Grace to turn your greate 
armye upon hym: and therto he aunsverd ones say- 



ORIGINAL LKTTERS. 75 

eng that if he might stop your Jurney in to Fraunce 
he wold yoWHighnesse supposed that he wold make 
you werr, and after he wold ye shuld know the con- 
trary. A nother tyme when I had somwhat with 
resonyng moved hym, he aunswerd to the same poynt 
thus. Yea my brothr shall doo right wysely sith he 
hath enterprised soo great a matier, as to make warr 
upon Fraunce, which he can not well perform and 
brynge aboute to turn his armye upon us and therby 
excuse hym of goyng in to Fraunce. Whereunto I 
aunswerd he shuld right well understond that if he 
wold breyke with your Grace, your Grace was able 
to perform your Voyage into Fraunce, and also to 
withstond hym and his power, and in case he made 
you werr it might somwhat trouble your Voyage, but 
not lette it. But I aunswerd thWle of Ergyle mor 
roundely and sharply when he spoke to me like words 
in the counsell, which wer to longe to wrote. 

Othre newes bee non here worth writing, but as 
they shalbe occurraunt I shall ascertaign your Grace ; 
save only they loke dayly for De la Mote. And thus 
Jhesus preserve your most noble Grace. Writen at 
Edinburghe the xiij^''. day of April. 

Your humble subgecte 

Ni: WEST. 



7t 






Jin. 



■f^ Eighth. 



liou .-.> i;:d tears, appears 

:.;4:Lvind. On this 



:..r which it speaks 



IjiM- _ --■.. v.To negociated it, 

. . . ^L V Ajcainst France ; 
^ ' " . ■ '. -.tiiuries at different 

I ; . . , . 1 vas given to this 

I. ■ 

.u". Vrince, oure 

■ •iiiiiiMid ws unto 

.'ur bmthir the 

.^ .liC 'c writtin unto 

■^ .'C Arragone have 

.>i. >iViU-t, treuxis to 

. . . >. .:>i-'«n thairof for 

^ ' :j5:i>, as we dout 

!,, ct^H.v of the sam- 

\...vi\ s^Uil unto ws, 

. • tail. Ill quhilkis 

^. , .» Jtc King of Ar- 

■ ...uJN jKirte the Due 

..., V .'\invssit, geve 

, ^..*.ii a anc certane 

.x'iiiv'uil ill thame. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 77 

Quhairapon owre Brothir of France has desirit ws to 
enter in the said treuxis geve ze enter in the sammyn. 
Heirfor* wfe have send unto you alswele to have knau- 
lage geve ze entir in thir treuxis or notht, as to have 
zoure avise quhat ze think we suld do for our parte : 
praying zow geve ze accept the sammyn to advertise 
ws haistely that We may help to trate ane forder amite 
and peax as We have bene ay reddy to do for uni- 
versale peax in Cristindome ; and that we may cause 
our traist counsalour and ambassadour the bischop 
of Murray now in the partis bezond sey do his uter 
besines the forsaid treuxis pendant for universale peax 
and expedicioun agains the Infidelis. And surlie 
derrest brothir we think mair lose is to you of zoure 
lait admirall ^ quha decessit to his grete honour and 
laude than the avantage micht have bene of the vyn- 
n)mg of all the Franche galeis and thair equippage. 
The saidis umquhile^ vailzeant knichtis service and 
utheris noble men that mon on baith the sides appa- 
rently be perist, Geve Weir continew, war bettir applyt 
aponn the Innemyis of Crist quhairintill all cristen 
men war wele want. Praying zou derrist brothir to 
take oure Writingis in gude parte as oure mynd is, 
for veraly we ar sary and als oure derrest fallow of 
this lose, throu acquentance we had of his fader that 
noble knicht quha convoyt our derrest fallow the 

* herefore. >> Sir Edward Howard, the son of the Earl of Surrey. 

He was killed April 35th, 1513, in an attempt to cut out some French gallies in the 
harbour of Coiiquet. « formerly, some time ago. 



78 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

qwene unto ws. It will like zou to haist unto ws 

zoure mynd hereintill and will schaw zou quhat we 

think of thir treuxis. Richt excellent, richt hie, and 

michty Prince oure derrest brothr and cousing, y* 

blessit Trinite have zou in tuition. Given under oure 

signete at oure Palace of Edinburgh the xxiiij. day of 

May. 

Zowr brod' 

JAMES R. 

To the richt excellennt^ richt hie, 

and michty Prince oure Derrest 

Brothir and Cousing the King of Ingland. 



LETTER XXVIII. 

Catherine qfJrragon Queen ofEnglcmd to Thomcuf 
Wokey the Kings Almoner, a. d. 161S. 

[ms. cotton, calig. d. VI. foL 92. Orig.^ 

*^* This and the two Letters which follow, rdato to the war with 
France, when Henry, joining the confederacy, interfered with the quarrel 
between Louis the Twelfth of France and Pope Julius the Second. 

Henry *s fondness for martial exercises gradually led kim tk> a loive of 
real war, and that the nation cherished the feeling at the moment, may be 
gathered firom the popular Airs and Songs prepared for the occasion. One 
of these will not be unacceptable to the reader. The Red Rose, it will 
be remembered, was King Henry's badge of cognizance : the Emperor 
Maximilian wore it at the siege of Terouenne as his volunteer. 

The Rosse wolle in to Prawnse spryng, 
Almythy God hyni ttiyder bryng. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 79 

And save this flovnr wyche ys out kyng. 

Thys Rosse, this Rosse, this ryall Rosse 

Wyehe ys callyd a nobyll thyng. 

The flowr of Englond, aud soy dour* Kyng. 

Thys Apryll schowyrs wyche ar ful swet 

Hath bownd thys Rosse <> not zet ful blowne; 

In France he woll hys levys schote 

Hys lyzth to conquer, hys henmys to knowne. 

Thys Rosse, that is of color rede, 

Wyll seke hys henmys bothe far and wyde. 

And wyth his bemys he woll Fransse lyth*. 

Sent Jorge Protector be hys good gyd. 

God send this flowyr wer* he wold be. 

To spreyd hys flowrs to hys rejoysing. 

In France to have the vyctory; 

All Hynglond for hym schal pray and syng. 

Jhesu and Mary, full of myzth, 

God be hys gyde in all hys ryzth ; 

Swet Sent Jorge owr Ladyes knyte 

Save Kyng Hary bothe be day and nyrth •. 

GUbert Talbot earl of Shrewsbury, went with the vanguard of th^ En- 
glish army ; and then " when all things were prest," says Hall, the King 
" accompanied with many noblemen and six hundred archers of his guard, 
all in white gaberdines and caps^ departed from his manor royal of Green, 
wich the fifteenth day of June, and so he and the Queen with small journeys 
came to Dover Castle and there rested, and made the Queen Governor of 
the Realm, and commanded William Warham then bishop of Canterbury, 
and Sir Thomas Lovel a sage knight, and divers other, to give their attend, 
anoe on the Qjoeen. : and commanded the earl of Surrey to draw toward 
the north.parts least the Scotts would make any enterprise in his absence. 
Then the King took leave of the Queen and of the Ladies, which made such 
soBow, for the departing of their lords and husbands, that it was great dolor 
to behold, and so he, with all his army, toke his ship the last day of June 
being the day of Sahrt Paul.** ^ 

The third of the Letters here j^esented to the reader, contains Cathe- 
rine's congratulations after the rout of the French cavalry at Guinegate; 
liiis BCtion, w^h took place on August the 16*1*, is more usually called 
The Battle of the Spurs k. It was so named, with their chaiac- 
teristic humour, by the French themselves ; because, in their panic on that 
•dtLj^ lliey made littk use of anything but their Spurs'*. 

All the thsee Letters here transcribed, received injury in the fire at 
WiestmSHster in 1731. 



Maistee Almoner, thinking that the Kings de- 
parting from Oalays shal cause that I shal not soo of- 

^sdldiM^ »» The stete of the season probably detained Hienry. * Kght. 

* where. • MS. Cotton. Domit. A. xviii. ' Hall, Chron. 

• La J«urfWe de» Esperons. ^ Lord Herb. Hist. Hen. VHI. p. »8. 



80 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

ten here from his Grace for the grete besinesse in his 
iomey that every day he shalhave, 1 send now my ser- 
vant to bringe me . . . worde of the King, and he «hai 
tarye ther til a nother eommeth and thi . . ay * I shal 
here every weke fromthens, and soo I pray you to 
take the p . . . '^ w* every of my messengers to write 
to me of the kings helthe, and w . . . ^ he entendeth 
to doo, for whan ye bee soo nere our enemyes I shalbe 
never in r ... <i til I see often lettres from you ; and 
doing this ye shal geve me cause to thanke you, and 
I shal knowe that the mynde that ye have had ever to 
me contynueth stil, as my trust alwayes hath be^. 
The brief that the Pope sent to the King I was veray 
gladde to see, and I shalbe more to here that he is the 
meane either to make an honorable peax for the King, 
or ells help on his part asmoche as he can, knowing 
that al the besinesse that the King hath was furst the 
cause of the Churche, and with this and th'emperor to- 
geder I trust to God that the King shal come home 
shortly with as grete victorye as any Prince in the 
worlde ; and this I pray God sende hym without nede 
of any other Prince. Mr. Almoner, touching Fraun- 
cesse de Cassery's matier, I thanke you for your labor 
therin ; true it is she was my Woman befor she was 
maryed, but now syn she caste hir self away I have 
noo mor charge of hir. For veray pitie to see hir loste 
I prayed you in Caunterbury to finde the meanes to 
sende hir home into hir cuntrey. Now ye thinke that 

* sv. this way. ^ i)ains. ^f. what. d /. rest. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 81 

with my lettre of recommendacion to the Duchesse of 
Savoye she shalbe content to take hir into, hir service. 
This M^ Almoner is not mete for hir, for she is soo 
peiillous a Wpman that it shalbe daungerous to put 
hir in a straunge House. And ye wol doo soo moche 
for me to make h . . * goo hens by the way with tham- 
bassador of the King my fader, it shuld bee to me a 
grete pleas% and with that ye shal binde me to you 
mor than ever I was. Fromhens I have noo thing to 
write to you. But every body her is in good h . . . b 
thanked bee God, and the counsail veray diligent in al 
things concemyng thexpedicion of the Elings seruice. 

And ye wol doo somoche to pray the King ^ 

bee soo good lord- as to write to tha3rm that he is en- 
formed by me, soo well .... ng is doon by thaym 
that he is veray wel content therw^ and geve thaym 

it ^, bidding thaym soo to contynue. And 

with this I make an ende. At R « 

xxvi*^ day of July. 

. . . Imoner' after thje writing of this Lettre my 
lord Admirall sent hid . . 8 . . . . . . whiche was taken 

w^ his ship and brought to hym as the said 

. . from Depe towards Flaunders, and he hath shewe 

things as bee specifyed in a bille . . . . e 

a true man in his words. Enfourme the K . . . 



> her. b health. ^f. king's grace to. </. thanks for it. 

• At Richemond the ' Mr. Almoner. ( hider. 

VOL. I. G 



8C OEIGINAL LETTERS. 

his plea*' ahalbe, for I am assured the same 

sh 

KATHBRINA THE QWEXE. 



LETTER XXIX. 

Queen Catherine to Thomm Wclsey, Aug. IS** 1518. 

[mr. cotton, calio. d. VI. foL 93. Orig,^ 



Maister AliDoner I receyved bothe your Lettres 
by Copynger and John Glyn, and I . . . veray gladde 
to here soo well the King passeth his daungerous pas- 
sage, the Franshem ...» being present. I trust to 
God it shal soo contynue that ever the King shal hau 
....*' best on his enemyes with as grete honor as 
ever King had. Til I sawe your Lettre I . . . ^^ trobled 
to here soo nere the King was to the siege of Tyrwyn 
for thinconvenients . . . ^ his owne personpe ; but 
now I thanke God ye make me suer of the good hede 

tliatthe * takethof hytnselftoavoidealmaner' 

daungiers. I pray you good M. Almoner remembre 
t!bif King alwayes thus to contynue : ffor w* his lif and 
l«{tt«^ there . .8 noo thing in the world that shal 
Oi> hrm amys by the grace of Grod, and w*out 

k lOnll have the. « wm. < of. 



V'%k- 



f m\\ manner. s is. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 83 

that I can see nomaner good thing shal falle after it : 
and being suer th . .ye wil not forgete this, I wol saye 
herin noo mor! But I pray you to write to me, and 
though ye have noo grete matiers, yit I pray you sende 
me worde . . . the chief that is to me from the Kings 
own self. Ye may think whan I put yo . . . * this 
labor that I forgete the grete besinesse that ye have 
in hand, but if ye re .... in what caas I am that is 
wi^out any comfort or pleash' onlesse I here from . '. . 
ye wol not blame me to desire you (though it bee a 
short lettre) to let me kno . . from you tydings as 
ofifcen as may bee, as my trusting desemeth vnto you. 
From hens I have noo thing to write to you, but that 
ye bee not soo b*esy the . . wanre, as we bee here en- 
oombred w* it. I meane that touching myn own . . . 
for going farther wher I shal not soo often her ^ from 
the King ; and al bis sub ... * bee veray gladde, I 
thanke God, to bee besy with the Scotts, for thay take 
it for . ..<* passe tyme. My hert is veray good to it, 
and I am horrible besy w^ making standerds, banners, 
and bagies ^, I pray God furst to send ther with you 
a good .... as I trust he shal doo, and with that 

every thing her shal goo veray well you to 

sende me worde wheder ye receyved the Lettres that 

I sent vnto you to t of the King my fader, 

and what answer he gave you to it. And w^ thi^ 

• you to. ^ hear. • subjects. * tor a. • bad^s. 

o2 



:^l OftlOfKAL LVTTEKS. 

an ende. At Ridiemount the xiij. day 

%>f Aujnisf. 

KATHERIXA THE QWENE. 

Itfaktcr Afanoner. 



LETTER XXX. 
Qmren Catherme to TJuynms Wdlsey, Auff. 26, 161 3r 

[k8. cotton, calig. d. VI. foL 04 OHff.] 



Maister Almoner, what comfort I have with the 
good tyding8 of yo'^ lettre I node not write it to you, 
for the veray reason that I have, sheweth it The Vic- 
torye hath been soo grete that I think noon suche hath 
been seen befor. Al England hath cause to thanke 
Grod of it, and I specially, seing that the King begyn- 
neth soo well ; whiche is to me a grete hope that thende 
shalbe like. I pray God sende the same shortly, for 
if this contynue soo still, I truste in hym that every 
thing shal folowe thereafter to the Kings pleasur and 
WY comfort. M. Almoner, for the payne ye take re^ 
i^i^mbring to write to me soo often, I thanke you for it 
^' a) my hert, prayeng you to contynue stil sending 
ui^ wtutle how the King doeth, and if he kepe stil his 
j^hhI rule as he beganne. I thinke w* the compatiye 
\xf ihcn^iH'ixir and w' his good counsaill his Grace shal 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 85 

not aventure hymself soo moche as I ^as aferde of 
befor. I was veray gladde to here the metyng of 
thaym both, which hath been to my semyng the 
grettest honor to the King that ever came to Prince. 
Themperor hath doon every thing like himself. I 
trust to God he shalbe therby knowen for oon of 
thexcellentest Princes in the Worlde, and taken for a 
nother man than he was befor thought. M. Almoner 
I thinke myself that I am soo bounde to hym for my 
part, that, in my Lettre, I beseche the King to re- 
commende me vnto hym, and if his Grace thinketh 
that this shalbe wel doon I pray you to remembre it. 
Newes fromhens I have noon ; but suche as I . . • 
suer the counsaill have advertised the King of, and 
therby ye shal see howe Almighty God helpeth her** 
our part aswel as ther. I trowe the cause is (a . . . 
here^ saye) that the King disposeth hymself to hym soo 
wel that I hope al . . shalbe the better for his merits. 
And w* this I make an ende. At Riche . . .** the xxv" 
day of August. 

KATHERINA THE QWENE. 



LETTER XXXI. 

Lord Surrejfs second Letter of Challenge to King 
James the Fourth of Scothmd, 

[m8. cotton. CALIO. B. VI. foL 73.] 

*J^ King Heniy the Eighth crossed to Calais on the last day of June 
1513. At embarking, he took the Earl of Surrey by the hand, and said 
• am. <> here. « as 1 hear. Richcmood. 



86 OBIGINAL LETTERS. 

**' My Lord, I trust not the SootU ; therefore I piay you be not negli- 
gent." 

Having aooompanied Queen Catherine from Dover to London, die £ail 
went forward to the North. James, in the mean time, crossed the Tweed 
with fifty thousand men. From Alnwick Lord Surrey sent to accuse 
James of a breach of his oath, respecting the treaty of peace; and toofiiar 
him battle on the 9*^ of September, should he dare to abide so long on the 
English territory; James, who had fixed his camp at Ford, aco^ted the 
^udlenge ; but afterwards removed to Fkdden, a higher gprnund, at a tbort 
distance, on the skirts of Cheviot. Surrey seized this opportunity of send, 
ing to James a second Letter, signed by himself and the officers of hi^iest 
rank in his army. It is the one whidi follows. The King's answer was 
verbaL It did not become an Earl to dictate to a King. He expected 
victory from the justice of his cause ; not from the advantage of tiie gfoond. 
James went to the battle with all the gaiety of a Knight going to a touxna- 
ment. The catastrophe will be seen in the letters of Queen Catherine. 



Right highe and mightie Prince, so itt is that late- 
lie I sent unto you Rougecrosse pursevant at Armes 
and by him advertised yo' Grace that I and other, my 
Sovereigne Lord's subjects, were come to represse and 
resist your Invasions of this the Kinges my Sovo^igne 
Lordes realme. And for that intent I offered to give 
you battell on this half, Friday next coming, which my 
message your Grace tooke pleasure to heare as I am 
enformed. And by your herauld Isley ye made aii- 
swere that you were right joyeous of my desire, and 
would not faile to accomplishe the same and to abide 
.me there, where youVere at the tyme of my message 
m lAiewed unto your Grace. And albeit it hathe pleased 
vow to change your said promise and put your self 
into a ground more like a fortresse or Campe then • 
upon any indiflerent ground for battell to be tryede, 
Wherefoiv considering the day apointed is so nighe 



O&IGINAL LSTT£&$. 87 

approching I desire now of your Grace for the accom- 
plishment of your honorable promise yow will despose 
your self for yo"^ parte, like as I shall doo for myne, to- 
be to morrowe with your host in your side of the plaine 
of Milfeild, in likewise as I ishall doo for m3me, and 
shalbe with the subjects of my sovereign Lcn'd on my 
side of the playne of the said feild to give yow battell 
betwixt xij. of the clock and ilj. in the aftemoone, upon 
sufBciait warning by yow to be given by viij*? or ix of 
the Clock in the Morning by the said Pursevant And 
like iis I and other Noblemen my company binde us 
by our writeing subscribed with our hands to keepe 
the same tyme to the intent above said : ift may like 
your Grace by your honorable Letters subscribed with 
your hand to bind yo'^ Grace for the accomplishment 
of this desire, trusting that yow will depeach our said 
Pursevant immediatly, for the long delay of so honor- 
able a Journey wee think should sound to your dis- 
honor. Written in the feild in WoUer haughe the T^ 
day of September at five of the Clock in the aftemoone 

THOMAS SURREY. 
THOMAS HAWARD, THOM. DACRE, CLIFFORD, HENERUB 
SCROOPE, RALPHE SCROPE, RICH. LATIMER, WILLIAM CONTBRS, 
J. LOMLEY, R. OGLE, W. PERCYE, E. STANLEY, WILUAM MOLY* 
RZX, MARMADUKE CONSTABLE, W. GAS00161IE, W. GRlTFirH, 
«CORG£ DARCV, W. BULMER, THOM. STAAKGWAYCS^ 4ic 



88 ORIGINAL L£TTKES. 



LETTER XXXII. 

Queen Catherine to King Henry VIII^, after the 
BattleofFloddm fdd, a. d. 1618. 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. III. foL 15. Or{g.\ 



SIR 



My Lord Howard hath sent me a Lettre 
open to your Grace, within oon of myn, by the whiche 
ye shal see at length the grete Victorye that our Lord 
hath sent your subgetts in your absence ; and for this 
cause it is noo nede herin to trouble your Grace with 
long writing, but, to my thinking, this batell hath bee 
to your Grace and al your reame the grettest honor 
that coude bee, and more than ye shuld wyn al the 
crown of Fraunce ; thankend bee God of it : and I 
am suer your Grace forgetteth not to doo this, which 
shal be cause to send you many moo suche grete vic- 
toryes, as I trust he shal doo. My husband, for has- 
tynesse, w* Rogecrpsse I coude not sende your Grace 
the pece of the King of Scotts cote whiche John Glyn 
now bringeth. In this your grace shal see how I can 
kepe my premys, sending you for your baners a Kings 
cote. I thought to sende hymself unto you, but our 
Englishemens herts wold not suflre it. It shuld haye 
been better for hym to have been in peax than have 
this rewarde. Al that God sendeth is for the best. 



•ORIGINAL LETTEES. 89 

My Lord of Surrey, my Henry, wold fayne knowe 
your pleasur in the buryeng of the King of Scotts body, 
for he hath writen to me soo. With the next messan- 
ger your grace pleasur may bee herin knowen. And 
with this I make an ende : prayng God to sende you 
home shortly, for without this noo joye here can bee 
accomplisshed ; and for the same I pray, and now goo 
to our Lady at Walsyngham that I promised soo long 
agoo to see. At Wobome the xvj. day of Septembre. 

I sende your grace herin a bille founde in a Scot- 
tisshemans purse of suche things as the Frenshe King 
sent to the said King of Scotts to make warre against 
you, beseching your * to sende Mathewe hider assone 
this messanger commeth to bringe me tydings from 
your Grace, 

Your humble wif and 
true servant 

KATHERINE. 



LETTER XXXIII. 

Q^een Caiharine ofArragon to Wolsey after the battle 

ofFlodden. 

[MS. COTTON. CALIG. B. VI. foL 35. OrigJ\ 



Maister Almoner whan the last messanger went I 
wrote not to you, bicause I had not the suerte of every 

• you. 



90 OBIGIKAL LETTK&S. 

tiling that was doon in the bataiU against the Scotti. 
Now syns that tyme came a Post frcnn my lord How- 
ard with a writing at length of every thing as it was, 
whiche I now sende to the King ; and ye shal tberby 
parceyve soo grele a gift that almighty Grod hath sent 
to the King ; for to me it is thought the grettest honor 
that ever Prince had ; his subgetts in his absence not 
oonly to have the Victorye but also to slee the King 
and many of his noblemen. This matier is soo mar- 
velous that it semeth to bee of Godds doing aloone. I 
trust the King shal remembre to thanke hym for it*; 
{or soo al the Reame her hath doon ; and bicause ye 
shal knowe by my Lord Howards Lettre every thing 
better than I can write, it is noo nede herin to saye any 
mor of it. 

M"^. Almoner the King, when he was in Calays a 
grete whyle agoo, sent me a Lettre touching the matier 
betwixt my lord of Caunterbury and my lord of Wyn- 
chestre. I did after his commaundement, and shewed 
the same befor Sir Thomas Lovell and M*" Englefeld 
unto my Lord of Caunterbury, and I prayed hym to 
geve thanswer shortly, after the Kyngs mynde as he 
knewe it ; for the matier was soo new to me that I wold 
goo noo further in it. Syns that tyme I have diverse 
seasons asked hym for the said answer, whiche I coude 

• Henry himself did not forget this. Hall says. " On the Monday at nyght the 
xxvi day of September, the Lord Uarbarte and the Earle mi Shrembary* jnade 
greate fires in their armies in token of victory and triumph : and on Tuesday the 
xxvii. daye, the Tonte of doth of gold was lett up, and the Kyngs Chapcll sang mass* 
and after Uiat Te Deum, and then the hishop of Rochester made a Rcrroon, and 
shewed the dcathc of the Kyngc of Scottes and muchc lamented the ill death and 
perjury of him." 



OKIGINAL L£TT£RS. 91 

never have til now ; and the same in a lettre I sende 
you herin closed. I pray you M. Almoner excuse me 
to the King for the taryeng of it soo Iwig for I coude 
have it noo sonner. And with this I make an ende, pray- 
cng you to contynue yo*^ writing whicHe is to me a grete 
comfort, and me thinketh it is a grete whyle agoo that 
I receyved any from you. At Wobome the xvj. day 
of Septembre. 

KATHF.BINA THE QWiiNE. 

M. Almoner I cannot sende you now my lord of 

Caunterbury's answer, for the cofer wherin it is is goon 

to my next lodgyng and therfor 1 shal this night sende 

it you by post. 

To Master Almoner. 



There are one or two passages in HalVs Chronicle which illustrate these 
Letters of Catherine on the Victory of Flodden Field. He says, " well 
known it was by them that fought, and also reported by the prisoners of 
Scotland that their King was taken or slain, but his body was not found till 
the next day, because aU the mean people as w^ Scotts as English were 
stripped out of their apparel as they lay on the field ; yet, at the last, he was 
found by the Lord Dacres, who knew hhn well by his privy tdccns, in that 
same place where the balttle of the Earl of Surrey and his first joined 
together. This King had divers deadly wounds, and in especial one with an 
arrow, and another with a bill, as appeared when he was naked. After that 
the body of the King of Scotts was found and brought to Berwick, the Earl 
•hewed it to Sir William Scott his chancellor, and Sir John Forman his ser- 
. jeant porter, whidi knew him at the first syght, and made gteat lamenta* 
tion. Then was the body bowelled, embalmed, and cered, and secretly, 
amongst other stufif, conveyed to Newcastle :^ and in another place, ^^After 
this noble Victory th'Erk wrote first to the Queen which had raised a 
great power to resist the said Kingof j^cotts, of the winning of the battayle, 
for then the body of the King of Scotts was not found, and she yet being 



W) 



tlijii!; tliat \v;i> (!''.. 
Now syns that tMix . 
ard with a \\v\::: j .it 
whiche I i;<»vv >i i..: 
ptTCcyvc MK) i;i\t. •. 
to the Kin*:: ini r: 
tliat ever Priiuv !. 
oonly to havf {'•..■ 
and many of Ir- 
vclous tliat it -V 
trust the Kii:'. 
for SCO al tl>i 
shal knovvt." Ii 
better tli:ui . 
nior of it. 

W. Al:. 

grete wl, . 
betwixt ■ 
chest re. 
the sail 
unto m 
^reve I 
knewi 

^(M) II' 

seaM* 

• II- 

x%\i ■•.. 
Kn-:il. 

iiliii ■• 

^-in"' • ■ 

I'll!'. 



^..u :'or which "~ . - 

. . ■ , \ht SCOt&Afl fVTg 

v^iiuu at the time ox r.ia 

.1 . .»*iLin Ayr his intexmeiiC 

^v i>r iiis intennent at Su 

c c aitouian Collection ^ : 

.^.. U.IU sajRk that being closed 

,rt«.r* oc 54k«u where it re- 

. . J* -x'i ATtain. " But since 

, .. :: :he raigne of King £d- 

^wioik dieie keeping home, I 

-•..«.^ X.I lapped in lead, thxowne 

.. I* . lead, and other rubble." *" 

-. :.i.>xt' \-\dgar opinions which 

v.:*^ Janics*8 death, 8a3r8 it was 

^ . ^» <^vw the token of the iron 

^ i .u have laid aside on the day 

. >^ where James fell. It is 



WXIV. 

j^ Ilemi/ the Eighth. 

.1. fol. 37. Orig.] 

.w tiature of a Border forray, will 
.teu fi*^i^i ^h<^ following Letter : 

^ ^ -c- Mothan's ale, 

x.x>«('> Anualcb, edit. lesi. p. 4U4. 



OniGINAL LETTERS. 93 

Married the wives of Greenlaws goods. 
And given them light to sec their hoods. 

i )acre of the North, the writer of this Letter, was Warden of the 
-irches from the first to the seventeenth year of Henry the Eighth. He 
.. i.s .1 tliioftain of intrepid character, whose influence extended far beyord 
' Scottish border : indeed he stood at no intrigue to foment division in 
every part of Scotland. In 1514, when that unha]^y country was clouded 
.. : - h calamity, he ended one of his Letters to the Lords of Henry's Council 
with these memorable words : *"*• There was never so mekill myschefe, 
ruijbry^ spoiling, and vengeance in Scotland then there is nowe, without 
hope of remedye ; which I pray our Lord God to continewe." a But we 
sliall again have occasion to speak of Lord Dacre. The full of the Moon 
wns the favourite time for the mischiefs of the Border forray. 



Pleas it your Highnes to knowe I have receyved 
your most honourable Lettres of your gracious thanks 
for my pure service done to your Grace according to 
ray dieuty, which is to me the most singler comforth and 
rejoysing I can have ; for by the same I weU perceyve 
yo' Highnes regardeth not the sinistre reaport or ru- 
mor surmised ayenst me, ne your Grace regardeth or 
geveth ony credence thereunto, wherby I am bounde 
the rather to doun to your Highnes the most laudable 
and acceptable service I can or may do, and so shall 
undoutedly at all my power : and where as by the same 
your most honorable letters I understond your pleasor 
and commaundment is that I shold e£PectualIy procede 
to the spedy execucion of ij Roods opon the West and 
Medyll Marches t( the most annoyaunce of the Scotts 
that I possibly may, like it your Graxie to knowe 

Opon Thuresday last past I assembled your sub- 
gietts in Northumbreland to the nombre of a thousand 

• MS. Cotton. Calig. B. i- fol. 154. 



94 OHIGTNAL LETTERS. 

horsmen, and rode in at Gallespeth and so to the watre 
of Kale two myle within Scotland, and there set fiirth 
two foreyes ; my broder Philipp Dacre with ccc. men 
which burnt and distroyed the Town of Rowcastell 
with all the comes in the same and thereabouts, and wan 
two towres in it, and burnt both roffe and flores : and 
Sir Roger Fenwike with ccc. men burnt the Town of 
Langton and distroyed all the comes therein : which 
Townes er in the hert of the countre two myle beyond 
Jedworthopon the watere of Chevyot. And I comewith 
a stale * to a place called the Dungyon, a myle from 
Jedworth, and so went to the Sclater furd on the wa.. 
ter of Bowset, and there the Scotts persewed us right 
sore, ther bekered ^ with us, and gave us hand stroks ; 
there come thre standards to bak theym, that is to say 
David Karr of Feraehirst and the lard of Boudged- 
worth opon the oon side, and the sheriflPof Tevidale on 
the othre side, with the nombre of dcc. men or mo. 
The lard of Walghope was hurt there with oon arrowe 
and his hors slane ; Mark Trumbill was strikken with a 
spere and the hede left in hym, his hors was won, and 
diverse Scotesmen were hurt there. And so we come 
forwards, where we saw my broder Syr Cristofer Dacre 
with his oste arreyed at a place called the Belljmg, 
which was to us no litill comforth, and to hym gret 
gladnes se3mg the small power we were of at that tyme. 
My said broder come in at Cressopbrige and there 

• /. a steal, an ambush. ^ bickered. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 95 

entred the Medyll marches, and so come thorow Ledes- 
dale to the rughes wyre, xiiij myle within the ground of 
Scotland, and there he put furth two forreyes: Syr 
John Ratclif with fyve hundreth men in oon, which 
burnt the town of Dyker sex myle from the said swyre 
with a towre in the same, thei layed come and straw 
to the dore and burnt it both rofe and flore, and so 
smoked theym owt. Also the said Syr John and his 
company burnt the Townnes of Sowdon and Lurches- 
trother with artowre in it, and distroyed all the comes 
about theym and toke diverse prisoners with much in- 
sight and goods. Nicholes Haryngton, Nicholes Ryd- 
ley, Thomas Medilton, and George Skelton with othre 
to the nombrje of fyve hundreth in the othre forrey 
burnt the towne of Hyndhalghehede and a towre in 
the same flore and rofe ; and in likewise the townnes 
of West sawsyde and Est sawsyde, with a Pele of lyme 
.and stane in it : and my said broder Syr Cristofer, with 
two thousand horsmen and coco, fute men with bowes 
for $avegard of thost** in stray ts come in a stale to 
Dykerawe ; and there the said forreyes releved to hym, 
and so come forward and met me. We had not rydden 
above the space of a myle when we sawe the Lord Cham- 
brelane appere in our sight with ij M. men, and foiu: 
standerds ; the othre thre standerds resorted to hym and 
so the countre drew fast to theym. We put us in arreye 
and come homeworde and rode no faster then nowr 

• the host. 



96 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

shepp and swyne that we had won wold dryve, which 
was of no gret substance, for the countre was warned 
of our comyng and the bekyns burnt fro mydnyght for- 
ward. And when the Scotts had geven us overe we 
retoumed home and come in at the Redeswyre* I ccHne 
to Harbotill at mydnyght : my broder Syr Cristofer lay 
that night at the towre of Otterbume, and opon the 
mome to Hexham, and his folks in other townnes opcm 
the water of Tyne, and, on the thrid day at home, as 
many as might git. 

Sir I se not the gentilmen of the countre in a redy- 
nes for defence of your bordoures, for certen of th^m 
to whome I had geven wamyng, as my Lord Ogle 
which promised to com to me, the constable of Alne- 
wike, and othre, trustyng thei wold have bene glad to 
do your Grace service accordingly as thei have done 
to your Wardens in tyme of werre, come not to me at 
the place appoynted, wherby I was not accompayned 
as I thoght to have bene. I was councelled and avised 
by my guyds to have rejomed my purpose, and so wold 
have done, but oonly that I had app03nited with my 
broder Syr Cristofer to mete hym in Scotland, for he 
departed fro me to the West Merches to brjmg my 
folks from thens whome I might not disappo3nit for I 
had no space to gif him wamyng, it was xxx? myle fro 
me and more, and els I had not keped my purpose 
which now is performed thanked be Jhesu, and all your 
subgietts in savety bot a servaunt of myn, which was 



ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 97 

kiUed there, and two Scotts were slain and many othre 
hurt the same tyme. 

Pleas it your Grace, as for the Rode to be made 
opon your West marche I can not se how it can be 
done conveniently unto the next light, for two conside- 
racions, oon is bycause I dar not be absent of this Me- 
dill March during this light, for fere the Scotts schold 
distroye and bume the countrie in myn absence, which 
I regard gretly ; and oon othre is that my servants 
horses which come to this Rode was sore labored, for 
thei rode xxviij^' owres without any bayte. And in the 
next light I shall, God willing, performe, the said rode ; 
and in the meane tyme shall cause small Rodes be made, 
which shalbe as gret annoyaunce to the Scotts as a great 
Rode shold be, and thus shall yo"" money be employed 
to the best I can, and for the grettiest hurt and de- 
struccion of the Scotts ; for I shalbe as goode a husband 
thereof as I wold be of myn awn, and alwey I shalbe 
redy to gif accompt of the same at your pleasure. 

Also pleas it your Grace me seamnes* it were neces- 
sary that yo"" lettres of commaundment were direct^ to 
my lord of Northumbreland and to my Lord of Clif- 
ford, to cause their tenaunts gif attendance opon your 
Wardens as thei have bene accustomed to do in 
tymes passed, for as I understond my Lord Cliffords 
tenaunts er*^ warned not to ride without his speciall 
commaundment. 

* seems. ' ^ directed. « are. 

VOL. I. H * 



98 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

As fior Newes of Scotland, like it your Grace to 
know, John of Barton which passed into Frauneff in 
the Navye of Scotland, launded at Kirkobrigfae and 
ther toke aeknes and dieeeced of the aaroe. 

There base bene a gret coimc^ at Saynt JctoAstoni^ 
and all the k)rds of Scotland was there with du 
Quqie. It is determined by theym that the Bitshop 
of Aberdene shalbe Arcbbisshopp oi saynt Andrswe»: 
the Wsshopp of Catnes shalbe bishop of Aberdene;^ a 
broder of therl of Adthills shall have Catnes. The 
Abbaye of Arbrothe is geven to Master Qtcffge 
Douglas therl of Anguyse son : th'abbaye of Du»- 
fermlyn to Master James Hebbume : the Priory of 
Coldynghame to the lord Chambrelane broder: and 
a broder of David Karrs of Famehirst is entred by 
force into the Ab^acye of Kelso and enjoyes it by 
intrusion. 

Also it is aggreed by the said Councell that the 
Castell of Sterling shalbe vetelled and fortified in all 
hayst possible, and the lord Borthwike shalbe capi- 
tane of the same, and have the yong King in his ke- 
ping there, and he not to be removed without assent 
of the hole councell. 

At the same councell a communication was had, 
which Lords shold haue the rewll of the lands for 
well and sou'te* of the realme, hot thei aggreed not 
thereopon ; and so departed from thens at that tyme. 

• the weal and surety. 



\ 



^4 ^. 



OBIGTKAL LETTKaS. 99 

Tbeii erf Aren, admirall of Scotland, is eommen home 

with the Shippes of Scotland, and a French Knight 

with hym which hase bro^t writtings and credence 

from the French King and the 'Duke of Albany ; what 

it is I know not as yit, hot I shall endevor me to git 

knowlege thereof. Thre of the grettest shippes o£ 

Scotland er* left in Fraunce to the i^r3mg of the yere, 

to th^entent thei may assist the French navye as it i& 

supposed. 

The gret Shipp of Scotland was ron cm grounde, 

bot sho** is recovered as thei say or theire Admiral! 

departed The Scottishe soldiours which be commea 

home makes evill reaport of the French King, sayng 

thei were not well entreated there: and as newai 

shalbe occurrant in thies parties your Grace shalbQ 

advertised by the grace of Almighti God, whome I 

besech to preserve your most honorable estate. At 

Harbotill the xiij^. day of NovemlHre at vj. of the clok 

in the momyng. >. 

Your hiunble subgyet' 

THOMAS BACRE. 

To the Kings Highnes. 



LETTER XXXV. 

WUliam Burbcmk to King Henrif the Eighth. 

[mS. GOTTOX. VITEli^L. B. IX* fid. 97- OrigJ] 

%* Botooe,ln hit Xitfe of Leo the Tenth, sajB that Cavdindl Bayt>- 
brigge died at Rome on the 24th of July 1514, ^^ having heen poisoned 

• are. »» she. 

H 2 



Too ORIGINAL LETTKRS. 

by his steward Rinaldo de Modena, who is said to have oonftaaed, on bdHig 
pat to the rack, that he was induced to commit the crime in levenge fiv a 
blow given him by his master." 

The Letter immediately before the reader, with the two whldi fifllow it, 
relate to this remarkable event, which, by opening the road of prefennent, 
hastened Wolsey's greatness. 

Cardinal Baynbrigge, or Bambridge as he is sometimes caQed, was th* 
intimate friend of Morton, and had shared in that prelate^s sufierings daring 
the usurpation of Richard the Third. He was afterwards afanoncr to 
Henry the Seventh ; was employed by that prince in various cmbMnes; 
and raised, in 1508, to the archbishoprick of York. Henry the Ei^th 
sent him, at a critical moment, on an embassy to Pope Julius the Second^ 
who, in 1511, created him a cardinal, by the title of S^ Praxede. 

The real date of the Cardinal's death was J uly the 14th. The Cardinal 
de Medids, whose letter to King Henry the Eighth, dated on that cbiy, is 
still extant, says ''*• Hodie bonae memoriae Cardinalis Eboraoenaig natuns 
reddidit quod acceperat" ■. The Cardinal of Sorento, governor of Rome, 
in another Letter to the King dated August the 22^. 1514, states diat a 
little time before his death, Cardinal Baynbrigge said to those who stood 
roimd his bed, '^ banc afilictionem ego pro patria et honore charissimi 
Regis mei patior" \ 

Rinaldo de Modena, it appears, was not the steward of Cardinal 
Baynbrigge, as Roscoe states, nor one of the household chaplains as he is 
described by Stow, but, simply, a priest whom the Cardinal employed in 
menial services in his chamber. 

The most remarkable circumstance however, noticed in the Letten 
" which follow, is the charge against Silvester de Giglis bishop of Woroestar, 
then resident as Envoy at Rome, as implicated in the murder : a diaige 
which is not noticed by our Historians. 

Richard Pace and William Burbank, the writers of these Letters, woe 
the Cardinal's Secretaries, and were appointed by him the executors of his 
wilL Pope Leo the Tenth reconunended them in strong terms of kind- 
ness to the favour of King Henry the Eighth. Pace, it will be remem- 
bered, was the bosom friend of Erasmus ; and was afterwards prindpal 
Secretary of State. 



Pleas it your most excellent Grace to witt, that, 
as touchyng the cause . . . .*^ deithe of my Lorde and 
Master my Lorde Cardinall, your Graces late Orator, 

• MS. Cotton. Vitell. B. ii. fol. 82. b. •> Ibid. fol. 8il*. « /. of the. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 101 

because that, aswell afibre his departor by the Phise- 
dans, as aftur by a ... . man that oppynyd his body 
by the Popis commandmentt, itt was juged .... he 
«huld have been posonyd, or att the leste grett tokens 
and as some . . . saide manyfest thyngs therof appe- 
ride, the Popes said holines haith sith caused raoste 
•diligentt and exactt examynacion to be maide uppon 
the same. And by cause tha^ it was known all most 
manyfestlie that the busshop of Worcestr, now y"^ 
Graces Orator, was enymye unto my said Lorde, itt 
was sodenlie noiside throughe the citie that he «hulde 
have . . .a auctor of this great pretendid offence. A 
certan prest namyd Ranalde . . ^ Modena was moche 
in my lords chamber, and alway dere and fa . . ,^ 
with the said busshop of Worcestr. Uppon suspicion 
he was taken by . . . ^ Popis commandment and sett 
in -Castill Angill. By cause that I shuld conduce 
home my said Lords companye, and com unto your 
Grace his Holines commandide me to be contynually 
at the said examynacion d . . . « by the Auditor of 
the Chamber, the castdlan, two bisshops, and the Fis- 
call, with sundrie notaries ; to th'ententt that I seing 
the ordor thereof shuld soo make rdacion imto your 
Grace. I taryed there whils thre days aftur my said 
Lords departor wer expiride ; soo that then our com- 
pany . . . . ^ no house to tary in butt muste neds de- 
partt. All this tyme the said Rainalde wold no thyng 

.»/. been the. *>j. of. « familiar. ^ the. •/. directed. f/. haviriR. 



lOS aaiGiNAL luttkhs. 

grmunt of tuB offence or knowledge cdmmyttide in tUs 
Uhalfe. Albe itt he graunttide that mony tytne^ he 
revelate my lords secretts unto the stdd busshop^ and 
«iindrie oder thynges wherby the Juges eft ... .* 
hym worthy to suflfre tortour : and delivered unto his 
iernydt counsaill a . . . ^ dT his said confessaon for his 
defence^ with sufficientt respett of tyme to aunsw^ 
unto the same according to the law. Wheruppcm 
supposing no . . . confession to have been made by 
the said Ranalde I tooke my leaf a . . . . Popis Ho^ 
lines, and soo my Journey homwarde, this night being 

in *^ of Florence. Your trewe and faithfull 

Swvante my felow Mast^' Richard Pace haith sentt 
unto me his Lettres desiring me to advertise Your 
Grace uppon . . . <i contenttes of the same. He 
Mrritithe that the said Ranalde within . . . tyme of 
his deliberacion to aunswer frelie and withoutt ma- 
nyshing o . . . ony creator haith opp^dlie confeaside 
that he hym self putt poson into my said lords potage 
alt the desire and conduction theranto of the busshop 
'ot Worcestr ; this he did soon aftur the fest of Cor- 
iptts Christi laste. He confesside that the said bu»- 
dl(^ yeve h3rm for his labors in this bihalfe xv. ducats 
^ fgM% s(Hn large, and som de camera. Item diatt 
1^ sttd busshop said thes wordes unto hym, ^^ If wie 
rM nott ^s Cardenall of the worlde, we shall never 
3a 3 ifuietnes.'" Item he confesside . . .^ oon Ste- 

!4K arstht. »»copy. */.t)Mcity. *thc. •that. 



OHIGINAL L1^TT£](»« lOS 

pban, 0eca*et chamberlan unto the said busslK^ of 
WmcGstr was . . . ^ b^ninto. He saith he did by 
•dhe said poson in a Citie namyd Sp . . . ^ Q€l;t ^^wpy 
fuT from Rome, simI kepid itt a good space in his 
i^haiabre und^ a tyyll stoon. AU this his isonfession 
M vnten in the proctor his booke by his own liaode 
in processu. And siith^i, the said Raaalde . . .<^ 
writesi this his confession £in] his awne haade and haith 
coniemde the same unto ray Lorde Cardenall de Me- 
.dicijs your Graces protector, whom the Popis Holines 
^afitire he was infonnyd by the saide Juges herof ) 
s^utt purposlye to knowe the verray tretitha Nott 
ooniie tlie said Ranalde haith thus confesside, and 
writen the same of his own hande, butt also con- 
fermyd itt with oon grett oithe. He made this con- 
fession frelie^ to thintentt itt shulde be shewide imiji«- 
diatelie unto the Popes holines, suj^sing therby that 
his said Holines ^uld have grauntted hym hys ly ve, 
and desiride the same of my said Lorde de Medicis, 
who aunswerde that he shuld have pardon of all 
ftbynges that he had confesside (whiche was ihefte and 
mony oder ^ enormyties) save oonlie of killing of my 
Larde Cardinall. Uppon the mo£ow aftur^ the said 
Ranalde, with a email knyff that he had secrett, smott 
hym self, wolfuUy intending to have killed hy^ self, 
and therof is in poontt of deithe as is supposide with- 
out recovery ; and saith that he knowth perfitelie to be 

■ privy. •» 6c. Spolcto. •/. hath. * many other. 



104 ORIGINAL L£TT£AS. 

perpetually for this act dampnyd. My said felow 
writithe that the said busshop haith obteignyd suche 
fr^pdes by mean of his monye, that he trustith to as- 
caipe this jeopardie of correction. And also that 
som your Grace's loyers shewid hym sith my depart-, 
our from Rome that the Popis Holines wold.gladlie 
have the matier coloride upon the busshops partie 
speciallie, for that service that the said busshop shulde 
have doon for his Holines in procuring (soo farr as 
in him was) peax bitwixtt your Grace and the Franshe 
King. Verralie I can nott bileve that his Holines 
ever intendide this ; remembring soo strate examyna- 
cion as he haith causid to be made herein, and fiwn 
the begynn)nig therof knew perfitelie that all suspi- 
cion herof was oonlie ayanste the saide busshop. And 
I trust verralie his Holines woU advertise your Grace 
right shortlie uppon the hool processe maid in this 
bihalf, for in the begjmning of this examynadon he 
saide that if itt war possible he wolde " reddere ra- 
tionem Sacrae Majestati vestrae super interitu Cardi- 
nalis sui.^ By sids this, all the hooll College woU call 
for the correction herof. He writing to me also that 
now all Rome is full of the rumor of this detestable 
act, the forsaid Stephan is taken and sett in the Cas- 
till. Som ther be that haith noside^ in Rome how 
that the poson shuld have been sentt from England 
by som prelate thare, being enemye unto my said late 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 105 

Lorde, and procuride the same to be mynystrid unto 
hym by his cooke. Wheruppon soundrie men hath 
inquyred the same boith of my said felo and me, wher- 
unto we aunswerde that our master had no suche eny- 
myes in England, ne that Prelates of Englande and 
English borne wer ever disposed unto ony suche 
actes. My said felow wiitithe that he is informyde 
by som, your Graces frendes, that sithe the saide con- 
fession was shewide unto the Popes Holines moche 
secret labor haith been made unto the same ; that the 
foresaid Ranalde shulde revooke or excuse his said 
confession made ayanste the saide bushop. In his 
confession making . . . desiride the Popis Holines 
instantlie to regarde the said busshops . . . and to 
have compassion uppon hym. Els he said that he 
muste nedes be undoon ; tho itt warr butt oonlie by 
means of my Lorde Cardinall Hadrian. In all haste 
possible, aftur that knowlege conj unto me, I did de- 
peche this berar towards Your Grsuce for to advertise 
the same of the premisses. My said felow writithe 
no thyng what ordor is intendide for the correction 
heroff. I have therfore writen unto hym that in ony 
wise he shall signifye unto your Grace when and as- 
soon as the saide ordor shalbe determynyde. In 
tyme of writing ... I was soore ceaside : as may 
somdeall be percevide by the rude maner of the be- 
sechyng yo"^ Grace to have patiens therin with me. 
Thus I shall duryng lyve humble bisiche our Lorde 



106 ORIGIKAL LETTERS. 

Jhu Cor the preservation of your Graces most hyg^ 

ami roiall astate. From Florence the xxviij?^ day ot 

Augiiste M.D. xiiij. 

Your Grace's moste lawUe^ 

faithful!, and trewe subgett 
To the Kinge's mott 

noble (trace. {T?te signature burnt,) 



LETTER XXXVI. 



WHliayn Burbaiik'^s second Letter to King Henry VIII^ 
[m8. cotton, vitell. b. II. fol. 94. b. Orig.] 



IM.KAS itt your moste noble Grace, aftur that I hade 
c'IokIiI uiy former Lettre jimto the same, I recevide from 
your faithfull servantt M. Richard Pade«, my felow, 
in writing, how that the prest that posonyd my lord 
uud master was inducyd by his confessors, by mean of 
the busshop of Worcestr, that he shuld instantly deny 
hitt confession. And the said busshop laborid to have 
iustriunenttes maide uppon the same. By infifflrsing 
of hin said Confessors he denyde the space of two 
iViV«% being all that tyme in poyntt of deith : butt ever 
he tUil banne and accurst the busshop of Worcestr, 
^ tlic tyme that ever he bigan to have famyliaritie 
^ iMCtice with hyin. Aboutt the sext hour of the 
\\xV i*V ^^ ^^ monthe tlie said prest dyyde of his 



ORIGINAL L£TT£«8. 107 

•own wtlfuU fttitoke. Aibe iu iiij. or v. houres aSare 
Jie djyd, lie graunttkl of new unto hn nzrgion and ptd- 
sioian dittt he posynyde my said lorde : butt he did 
not shew by whoos instance bdng so oomraandid by 
his confessors. The Popis Holines haith promyttid 
that Justice shall be ministride in this behalf; and that 
all his confessions and processe maid ayanst the said 
prest shall be kepid in suretie for your Grace to looke 
uppon att your pleasor ; inth also sundrie lettres of 
the said busshops which (as he saith) be hool ayanst 
h3an self. Their is no confession of the said Banald 
taken thayr in effectt, save oonlie his furst confession 
whiche remanyth in processe of the Jiiges. He saith 
also that my lord your Oraces protector haith pro- 
myttid that the said prests body shalbe tjw«r* hruntt 
DT quartride. He saith that many gret men haidi of- 
ferid ti^em ^If to kill the «aid bussiM^ of Worcestr for 
this aott : and that all Borne be inflamyde ayanste bym 
for the same, boith «prituall and temporatl. He "wn- 
tith also that he is secretlie in&linyde that the said 
baschop is tak*^, but the Pc^b Holiiies having re- 
ganfe thait he is your Graces Oratm*, itt is thought lie 
woU desiste of eondigtie correction doyng ayaostie 
hym^ whik he dhall percieve y<^}r pleasor in that Mhalf. 
TJiUs I i^mll besiche the blissid Trinitie £or the pee- 
aerradoii of yaur most highe and B^iiall astate. From 



108 O&IGINAL LETTERS. 

Florence the xxviij. day of Auguste att nyght m. d. 
xliij. Youre moste humble trew and faithful! gubjectt, 

WILLIAM BUBBANKE. 

To the Kings most noble 
Grace. 



LETTER XXXVII. 

Richard Pace toXhig Henry the Eighth upon the death 
of Cardinal Bainhridge, a. d. 1614. 

[ms. cotton, vitell. b. II. foL 102. Ort^.] 



Wythe most humble and lowly commendation unto 
your Grace. In consideration of the greate rumor 
that is now continually here for the miserable dethe 
off my late lorde Cardinal, I thoght itt verraye neces- 
sari to certifie your Highnesse in whatt cace the matier 
stondithe. Aftre that the Prist that poysonidde my 
late lorde hadde kyllydde hymselff for hys detestable 
deade, itt was necessari that all the hole matier schulde 
be committide to the Lawe and Justice, for the punische- 
ment off suche as were accusidde as autors off the sayde 
poysonjoige viz. the Bushoppe of Worcestre and oon 
off hys chiambrelayns. And so . . . synst** the sayde 

• ever 8incc. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 109 

prists dethe, processe haith bene made, accordynge to 
the lawe, agaynst them boithe, and itt is concludidde 
bi all doctors and lemidde men that the furst confes- 
sion made bi the sayde prist, must be bilevidde and 
none odre. Wherfore itt is also determinidde bi the 
Juggis in this cause, that the sayde Bushoppe schulde 
not oonly be put in prison, but also su . . .* tor- 
ments, and be compellidde to schewe the truthe. And 
he hadde bene put in prison affore thys yffe I wolde 
have consentidde thereunto : but in no cace I wolde 
condescende therto, havynge respecte unto hym as 
your Graces Orator ; and wylljmge to have knowliege 
off your sayde Graces mynde and pleasor afibre that I 
do agree to ony suche thynge ; thoghe that the Lawe 
doith exclude all maner of dignities in thys cace. 
Not wythstondjoige thys my demeanor, the sayde 
Bushoppe doithe imagyne boithe in wurd and deade 
the wurst he can agajoist me ; presuj^S3aige suerly 
to have your Graces favor in thys cause, and bi that to 
avoyde all thyngs nowe imputidde unto hym. Wher- 
fore I must most humbly des3nre and praye your High^ 
nesse to schewe your favors equally in thys cause, ac- 
cordjmg to Justice. And thus doynge, your Grace 
schall most reasonably resolve us boithe. For yffe the 
Bushoppe can bi justice purge hymsdfe from thys 
crime, he schall save his honor ; and my poore honestie 
schalbe seen in lyke maner evidently to all men : and 



110 OlIGTKAL LKTTEBS. 

lit schaJI «ppere that I intende nothynge but to sdiewe 
my selfe oon true and fajtheful servant to my Maister 
dedde, as I was unto him beynge In lyffe : for yffe Ij 
aftre the sayde pristis evident confession hadde nut 
usidde all diligence to cerche* owte all suche 99 were 
priyey to the poysonynge off my sayde ]ate Lorde, every 
man myght reasonably have thogbt that I hadde con* 
descende unto the same and bene oonsen . . . ^ wy the 
the sayde Bushc^pe therunto ; wherby I schulde have 
bene put to great rebuke withoute faohe. Om thynge 
doithe aggreve me ryght sore, that the sayde busho{^ 
doithe yett hof . . ."^ my kte"" lorde b^nge dedde in 
fklse and untrue thjmgis, wherin is nodre hcmestie 
nodre goodde Christianitie, as itt is manifest bi llie holy 
pre ... ^ off our fajrthe : and noth}mge but reason, 
honestie, perfecte love, and fidehtie to your Grace ray 
Prince, and my natural cuntrie, doithe move me to 
be sory for thys unnatural deade. For theghe • ,^ 
late lorde hadde (I can not denye) sim» vkes ; (I do 
take 6odde to my jugge) he was the m . . «' faythe- 
ful man to your Grace hys Prince that eve . . .i 
bcone, and most vehemente m the defense off your 
Ghraces causis, when none odre man dux»t open faya 
mouthe to speke, save he alone : thoghe (I well knowe) 
hciihe your Grace and odre my lordta . . > your 
most honorable counsayle haithe hadde trou rekrtian 



• 8earch. »• consentieiis. « infame. a precepts. 

• /.my. 'moRte. » ever was. i> of. 



OBICINAL LETTKtt». Ill 

off hjm frome hense bi sucbe that nodre intendidde 
goodde to your Highnesse nor them; but usidde 
crafty maners for their owne exaltation and private 
profyte : and th . . . .* were ayders and supporters^ here 
aftmiche .... .''doithenoweryght well knowe that i»y 
sayde lorde was oon faytheful man, and be yerraye sory 
that they didde not use in there most arduuse matiers 
boithe hys faythe and counsayle. Itt schall pleas your 
Grace to undrestonde that the sayde bushoppe off 
Wurcestres labors and myne be verraye different in 
the controversie dependynge betwixte hym and me ; 
forhedoithe seke nothynge but farorg, and procuritbe 
the same bi effusion off mony and large promisis. X 
do desyre nothynge but equitie and justice. Wherby 
itt doithe appere that I do nothjmge agaynst hym, but 
that at* boithe honestie and the lawe doithe require ; 
and hyft deadis agaynat me to procede oonly off malice, 
whyche to use agaynst me he haithe no cause : for I 
have evyr lovidde hym unty 1 nowe off late, when he was 
opynly accusidde offe my late lorde and maisters dethe ;. 
and also itt was opynly noysidde and seen bi certa3me 
»gne8 that he nodre was true nor lovjmge to your 
Grace mid Realme, but rather p^curidde your eDny-^ 
mys^ honor and profecte*^. And suche men can not be 
bvydde off ony conseienoe : for the holy lawe doitba 
no(t oonly excommunicate, interdicte, curse, and baiiine 
men off suche demeanor, but also commaunde the 

• those that. * iniquity. » that. 'profit. 



112 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

ruine and destruction off all there progenie ; as know- 
ithe allmyghty godde whoo preserve your Graces 
moste royall and noble astate in longe helthe and coo- 
tinual prosperitie. From Rome the xxv off Sept^nfare. 
By your Graces most humble and faythfiill servaunte 
and subjecte. 

RICHARDE PACE. 
To the Kyngis Grace, 
hys Soverayne Lorde. 



In a Latin letter which the bishop of Worcester wrote to Wolacy, dated 
from Rome August 31*' 1514, he dwells much upon his own innooenoeas 
substantiated by Raynald*s second confession. .He likewise states Ray- 
nald to have been insane, '^ demens quidem semper ac pene beUua fuit ;** 
and subsequently adds, *•*• et quo sepius ac acrius interrogatus cor me fidio 
criminatus esset, eo constantius respondit de industria rae nominane, quo 
se fadlius periculo liberare posset, quia fur esset et plura fiirta in domo 
Cardinalis ad valorem ducentorum ducatorum commisisset, ac nonnullas 
cedulas pecuniarum in illius obitu surripuisset*.*' 

That there was some ground beyond the mere confession of Raynald for 
suspecting the bishop of Worcester of unkind intentions towards Cardinal 
Baynbrigge may be inferred from the following extract of a Letter, fimm 
the Cardinal himself to ELing Henry the Eighth, written but a few months 
preceding. The original was formerly among the Letters in the Cottonian 
Manuscript Calig. d. vi. but was lost in the fire of 1731. The eactnct 
here given is one which was fortunately preserved by Bishop Kennett 
The Cardinal sa3rs, 

'' Duringe the tyme of my abode here in this Court I neder can ne 

woll desiste to signifye unto your Highnes such thinges as I shall perceive 
that be dissonant oder^ to your Grace's honour or welthe of your Reahneu 
As touching my Lord of Worcester your Grace's Oratour, he doth use 
continually the companye of the Protectour of Fraunce, bothe in the Cilyc 
and also in Vynes and Garthinges<: without the Citye, both by day and 
night, whereof right honourable men your Grace's frendes hath at sundxye 
times advertised me ; and that he is more familiar with him than with any 
Cardinal of Rome. It is perfitely knowne unto every Englishman within 

> MS. Cotton. Vitell. B. n. fol. 95. Another Letter on this sut^ect from the Bishop 
of Worcester to the King occurs in the same Volume fol. 113. 
•> either. • gardens. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 113 

this Citye that nothing can be more odious unto him than to hear of aajF 
pimpenms succession of youi Graces causes or for to heare of any honour 
spoken of your Realme or subjectes, odre* by writinge from Englonde or 
oder^ places, upon your moost noble actes and victories obteincd* From 
Rome the xx*"* day of Male If . d» xiiij." " 

Sylvester de O^lis was by birth an Italian ; and succeeded his unde 
in the Bishoprick of Worcester in 1498. . Wolset was the commendatory 
of his See. De Oiglis died at Rome April 16^^. 1521. He likewise was 
a correspondent of Erasmus. 

The violence of Cardinal Baynbrigge's temper to his servants, and 
those about him, is particularly dwelt upon by Oldoinus the continuator 
of Ciaconius. 



LETTER XXXVIir. 

Mary Sister of King Henri/ the Eighth^ ta Monsieur » 

[ms. cotton, vitell. c. XI. foL 156 b. Orig,] 

*^* The affiancing of Mary, the younger daughter of Heniry the 
Seventh, to Charles iMnce of Castile, in 1507, is mentioned by most of 
our Historians. ^ A mariage ** says HOlinfdied «^ iftA concluded betwixt 
the said King of Castile and the LaiMe Marie daughter to King Henrie, 
bdng about the age of ten yeate. For conclusion of which liiariage^ the 
lord of Baro# and Other ambassadors were sent into England ftom (he 
Emperor Maximilian, which with great rewards returned.'* An account 
of'* The Solempnities and Triumphes'* |»erfOrMed on this occasion at 
Richmond,, was given in a Tract which is now extremely rate, from the 
press of Richard Pynson. BOn.fires and othet rejoicings were made in 
London ; and Mary assumed the title of Princeit of CatHle. Among 
the presents given to her at one of the banquets on this occasion was a 
jewd fh^mihe young I^rince, consisting of a k fbr Karolus, With an in- 
scHptioii in Latin, intimating that Mar^ had chosen that better part 
which should not be taken from her. 

l*he final completion of the marriage, however, wfts deferred, and 

Henry the Seventh, in his WiH, charged his efl^cts with the sum of 

£50,000, as a dower for Mary, wheh married either to Charl^ E^g of 

Castile, or any other foreign l^nde. 

. In 1513, when Henry the Eighth returned from Toumay he made pre- 

» either. •> other. c MS. Lands. Drit. Mus. 978. fol. 177 b. 

VOL. I. I 



114 ORIGINAL LETTB16. 

pwattoM, Bays Hidl, «' to lende die fund Lady his wktaK to die Ptinet af 
Cftfltdl. But (iie CoonBayll of Flaundere aunswefed that Ajammu f ug ktf 
sdfe they wmild gladly feceyre, to be eiipowied to their PryaoB, lor dw 
was then one of the fkytest Ladyes of ihe wnrlde : bat aa emeeBiyBgotlio 
articles of her dowar% they coulde not fulfyll without th^asMBte af 4lft 
King of Anagon and the feahne ofCaMeH, whydie, as was sayde^aiyHded 
to hare hym maryed Ib Spayne. The kynge lylis a lovy^0t teodMC,*^ 
iiall adds, <' woulde not sonde his systet wyldely wythovrt? ardoww ai* 
sured** and '' tooke the fyrste agremente, betwttie the KyngphmflAm 
and Kyng Phyiyppe hys father, to bee of none efibota, syth tlia Syaaydc i 
ireidde not eonftinne die same, and the cati^ was, by «reMon4iMft Kfmgb 
Phyiyppe was not naturally borne to be their Kynge, but iMa Kyttgfein 
the ryghte of his wyfe, and so they were not bounde too hys agieementea 
made withoute their consente. So thus the Kynge of Englande leteyned 
styll hys syster, and all the preparacion that he had done for her oon- . 
veyaunce, whyche was veiye costdy." •» 

Early in the following year,- Henry sent agahi into Flanders for the 
performance of the marriage, '' and shewed how he had prepared all 
thhigs necessary and conrenient for sndi an high estate. Mfr^OoMBHiyl 
of Flaunders aunswered that they would not rece3rve her that yere, with 
many subtyl argumentes, by reason wheiof the perfite loVe bAwene Eiig- 
land and the Low Countreys was much slaked." ^ 

A marriage for Mary was now nq^ciated with Loais die Twttl&h of 
Fnmce, a prince who was, as near as possible, three times iier age* Her 
dower was fixed at four hundred thousand crowns^ : and die jnqpatlenoe 
of Louis for the arrival of his bride after she had been affiairoed^ U shewn 
by one or two of his Letters still extant. On die 2** of Sqitembcr 1514 
Louis wrote ta-Wols^, desirijog that his Queen mig^t be sent caaa with- 
out delay « : and die same day the Duke of Orleans wrote to Mary de- 
siring her to hasten her journey ^. 

The following Letter to Monsieur, entirdy in her n/wa hand^ was |no- 
bal4y written at this time. ■ 

MoNs^. bien humbleraent a vostre bonile Grace je 
me reoomm^ide. Motis^. jay par Mong^. ley^sgiie de 
Lencoln receu les tres aflfectueuses lettres quil voug a 
pleu ttaguaites mescripre qui mont e9t€<^ d'esgrant joye 
et confbrt : vous asseurant Mons^ quil aya riens que 

> See tbe Traoty In ftymer, torn. xHL p. 171. b nail. mUl laof, p, 147. 

• Ibid. p. 568. « Rymer, ut supr. p. 488. 

• MS. Cotton. Calig. D. VI. fol. 140. . ' IWd. fol. 142. 



ORIGINAL I.£TT£ES. 115 

ta&t je desire que de vous veoir. £t le Boy, Mons^ et 
frere fait toute extreme diligence pour mon alee de la la 
mer* qui au plaisir de Dieu sera briesve, vous suppli- 
ant Mons*^. me vouloir cependant pour ma tressingu- 
liere consolacion souuent faire scavoir de voz nouuel- 
1^ ensemble voz bons et agreables plaisirs pom: vous 
y obeir et complaire aidant nostre Createur qui vous 
dpiyt Mons'. bonne vie et longuemept bien prosperer. 

De la mainde 

Vre bien humble 

Compaigne 

A Mons^. MARIE. 



LETTEJl XXXiX. 

Mary Queen ofFrcmce to King Henry the lEighikJ 

[mS. iCOTTON. CALIG. D. VI. fol. 253. Orig,^ 

. *^* Henry the Eighth and his Court accompuiied the young Queen 
to Dover, ^^noe on the BecoBd<>f Octtiiber jilie ^sailed to Boulogne. She 
i^M^h^d Abbeville, on tl^e &^, and w^ n^i^ on the Q^. of tba>t pi9Ptb. 
The original List of the persons who went in her retinue, signed hy Louis 
MmkelfijM stiR pnserved among tiie<>ttoiiifln^finiucripts**;il)oii^ sttsnge 
^[it-i^ay^seepti, almost the whole w.ere disnpjssed the moipi^ after iier 
marriage. *' The Tewesdaye, being the x. daye ofOctober,'^ says HaH, *' all 

^«c. Aa.deli flelajner. 
k f\ Itpjis as follows : 



•' pKmtefieniMit 
Mods, le Conte de Nrushere. 
Maistredocteur Denton aumosmer. 
Messe. Richard Blouute escuyer de scuierie. 
Le fils de Mons. Roos, ^ 
Le fils de Mons. Cobham* > Enffhns d'onacur. 
Le fibt de Masse. Seyxnor* J 
ExTard frdre du Marquis. 
Arthus Polle. frere de Monsr. de Monta^. 
Le Poulayn. 
Francoye Buddis, huissier de Chambre. 

I 2 



116 «MII&I9(AL LCTTZm^. 



1^ whidbc WW ApcaCMnswc fivtbon^ibrsiiuB has 
Imig m hgpe af twffriiiir ii ir , wad waait, that had lianBKnBH% 
M Mtw€ IMF; mm! now dK^ VCK witii flBC KiiicK: aiucii canai 
take dwoght, in » mndi dhatioiiiedyedby tfag way B ru i min g, m 
iwrf ; but dKT waa no h laiily," TheQucoi'savii 
aetiao affl ba teMl m tUa, and dK ftHaving Lcttes 
irho ia no partinilariy iwnikamt in tfattc Lgtaaa, waa 
acaa, ar, aa the waa imartinifi calbd, dkt Xadis m die Xaifc af 




Mr good Brother as hertly as I can I 
me unto your Grace, merveljmge mocfa that I never 
herd from you syns ... re depertynge, so often as I 
hare sent and wrytten to you. And now am I left post 
a lone in effect ; for on the mom next after . . . e 
maryage my chambirlayn with all other men servants 
wer dischargd and in lyke wyse my mother Guldeford 
with other my women and maydyns, except such as 
never had experiens nor knowlech how to advertyse 
or gyfe me coungell yn any tyme of nede, which is to 
be f ered more schortly then your Grace thou^t at the 
tyme of my depertynge, as my mother Guldeftard can 
more playnly schew your Grace then I cann wryt ; to 
whom I beseche you to gjrve credens. And yf hit 
may be by eny meane possible, I humbly requyr you 
to cause my seyd mother Guldeford to repayr hither 

MftlNtre (Utinn, Medicin. 

Henry Calayn vwler dw robc«. 

no!)rtt Want. 

Madamoyiiello fircyf iimr du Marquig. 

MivdatDoyiiclle Marie finig flUe de Monsr. DacrM. 

MaUAtnoyHcIle Rlizabet Mur de Monsr. Grey. 

Mndamoyfielle BoLVVNa. 

MnUtreN Anne Jenyngham, fcmme de Chambre. 

Jnhnnnv DnrneMo, chnmberlere." 



OIllGINAL LETTEKS. 117 

once agayn. For ells if any chauns hdppe other tl>^ 
weale I schall not knowe wher nor of whom to aske 
any good counsell to your pleasur, nor yet to m3ai own 
proffit. I merveill moche that my Lord of Northfolke 
wold at all tymes so lyghtly graunt every thjoige at 
ther reqwests here. I am weale assured that when ze 
know the trouth of every thyng as my mother Guide- 
ford can sehew you, ze wold full ly ttyll have thowght 
I schold have ben thus intreated : that wold Grod 
my Lord of Zorke had cc^n with me yn the rome of 
Northfolke : for then am I sure I schuld have bene 
left moeh more at my herti .... then I am now. 

Aiid thus I byd your. Grace fare weale with , 

as ever had Prince ; and more hertis ease then I hav^ 
now * Abvile the xij^\ day of October. 

gef gredens to my mowder 

Geldjeford. Be your lowyng 
oyster mary quene 

QF FRANCE. 



LETTER XL. 
Mart/ Queen ofFra/ace to Tliomaa WoUey^ then Arch- 
bishop of York, 
[ms. cotton, calig. d. VI. foL 143. Orig.] 



... I recomaund me un to you as hertly as I can, 
and as schoth .... intreated as the kynge and you 



» Fjronx. 



lid ORIGINAL LSTTUB9. 

thought I schuld have ben, for ... . the morn ne&t 
after the maryage, all my servants, both men sad 
Women . . .• dyscharged. Insomoch that my mother 
<5uldeford was also dischargyd, -wham as ze knowe the 
kynge and zou willed me in eny wyse to be cowncelled. 
But for eny thjmge I myght do, yn no wyse myght 1 
have any graunt for her abode here, which I assure 
you my lord is moch to my discoiiiff(»*t ; besyd meny 
other discomfibrtis that ze wold full lyttyll have thought. 
I have not zet seen yn Fraunce eny lady or jentill 
woman so necessary for me as sche ys nor zet so mete 
to do the kjoige my brother service as sche ys. And 
for my part my lord, as ze love the kynge my biMt^ 
and me, fjoid the meanes that sche may yn all hagt 
com hither agayn, for I had as lefe lose the wyn- 
nynge I schall have yn France as to lose her eounsell 
when I schall lacke it, which is not like long to be re- 
quired, as I am sure the nobill men and jentillmen can 
schew you more then becometh me to Wryte yn this 
matter. I pray you my Lord gyf credens forther to 
my moder Guldeford yn every thyng concemynge 
thys matter. And albehit my Lord of NorthfoUke 
h . .^^ nethyr deled best with me nor zet with her at 
thys tyme : zet I pray you allwayes to be good lord un 

to her. And wold to God my had ben 

so good to have had zou with me hither when I 
ha . . . . rd^ of Northfolke. And thus fare ze weale 

• were. *>/. hath. « had my lord. 



My Lord. Wryt ile* the xijt^«. daye of 

Octobr. 

My Lord I pray you gyve credens to my 

ord 3m my sorows she have dely ve . 

. . . Yowr on why! I lefe 

MABY 

To my lovynge frend 
Th'archebischop of Zorke. 



LETTER Xhl. 

Mary Queen of France to Wolsey^ after the death of 
Louk the Twdfth, 

^M8. COTTON. VBSP. F. XIII. fol. 202 b. Or%g\ 

*^* On the fifth (tf November \b\^ Mary was. downed at &^ Dc^is, 
the Duke d'Angouleme, afterwaids Fraocis the Pint, hQ]4ing tb« GjioHn^ 
over ber bead during the gvcater part of the cefenumy on account of itii 
weight. On the sixth she made her Entry into P|id». The {*agea]»l pte« 
pared for this occasion occurs in a beautifully illuminated Manuscript in 
the Cottonian Collection, marked Vespasian b. ii, : the Allegory of which, 
«omewhat in imitation of the Marriage between Margaret and James the 
Fourth^ wns «pon the Uitipn of the Lii^^t imd tbe Itemed The rqoidnga 
of the Parisians were great The reader, it is presumed, will not be dig. 
pleased at the insertion hereof one of the Parisian baUads. 

** (mAOffV VAI CT« BIT VUONN«UR 
9X J^APAMB MARI9. 

Reveilles vous cueurs endormis 

Qui <JU» AugU)i» estffk amy* 

Chantom Ave Maria. 
I^a Thowoa #Ok et 1ft pourpri* 
Def Chasteaubc, Aigles, et des lite 
Jpyra PsiQe Maria. 

Reveflles vous, &C. 
Marie fille du vray lits 
Henry septiesme Roy de pris 
Priiioe sur tous les Princes. 

ReveiltoB vou8, fce. 

• ^. Written from Abbeville 



ISO OEIGINAL LETTERS. 

Ddy vreia de gram ennuys 
Tout Flaudres de ses ennemys 
Remontant les Egliaes. 

Reveilles vous, ftc 

Rl(}oi«sei vous je vous dix, Chantes 
Bourgunynons touA unis 

A ee hault marlage. . « 

Reveillex vous, iic. 

Car dicy a nulla fob dix 
Ne fera ny ftit au pais 
Tel paix, tel Ugna^. 

Reveilles vous. 6cc 

Nous pryelons, grans et petis* 
Que les Roys soient tous bons amys 
Et paix par tout le monde. 

Reveilles vous* dec 

Et que en la fin en Paradis 
Noel chantons tous realrays 
Pe voix et de cueur munde. 

Reveilles vous, &c.» 

Louis the Twelfth was in declining health at the time of his mairiage. 
At the Justs which succeeded the reception of the Queen, it is said he 
^' was feehle, and lay upon a couche for weakenes.*' He died, on the first 
of January following, having been married eighty-two days only. 

The following Letter, written on the ninth day after the death of Louis, 
will be thought a little curious, as it refers to advice whidi Wolsey had 
taken upon him to give the Queen, even at that early period, not to pro- 
mise herself immediately in marriage K 



My nanne good Lord, I recomend me to yow and 
thankjoig yow for yo"" kynde and lovyng Letter, dy&. 
syrjoig yow of yo^ good contenevans and good le^ 
sones that yow hathe gyffen to me ; my lord, I pray 
yow as my trust ys in yow, for to remember me to the 
Kyng my brother, for sowche eausses and bessynes 
as I have for to do ; for as now I have no nother*^ to 
put my trust in but the Kyng my brother and yow, 

• MS. Cotton. Jul. A. III. fol. 1 b. 

i> He might possibly have had an eye to Francis the First. Henault says. «• Le 
oomte d'Angouteme devint amoureux de la jeune reine. mais on lui fit appereevoir 
qu'il couroit risque dc cc donner un maitrc." Hist. Abr^. p. 366. 

« none other. 



0&I«IXAL LETTEBS. iJil 

And as yt shall pies the Kyng my brother and hys: 
Counsell I wolbe horderd*. And so I pray yow, my 
lord, to show hys Grace, seyng that the Kyng my 
howsbande ys departed to Grod, of whos sole Grod 
pardon. And wher as yow a vyse me that I shulde 
macke no promas. My Lord, I trust the Kyng my^ 
brother and yow wole Hat reken in me sovche chyld- 
hode. I trust I have so horderd * my selffe so sens ^ 
that I came hether, that I trust yt hathe ben to the 
honar of the Kyng my brother and me, sens I come 
hether, and so I trust to contenew. Yff ther be any 
thynge that I may do for yow I wold be glade for to 
do yt m thys partes. I shalbe glade to do yt for yow. 
No more to you at thys tyme but Jhs preserve yow. 
Wretten at Pares the x. day of January 1615. 
By yowr lowyng 

frende maey 

QUENE OF FRANCE. 

To my Lorde of Yorke. 



LETTER XLII. 

Mary the French Queen to King Henry the Eighth, 

requesting him to send fir herjr(ym Frcmce^ 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. in; fol. 17 b.] 

My most k3mde and lovjmg brother, I humbly re- 

comand me vnto yowr Grace, thankyng yow interly 

of yowr comfortable Letters ; besechyng yowr grace 



« ordered, *> since. 



1^ OEieiNAA. L£TTKBS. 

most humbly now so to contenwe toward me and »y 
frendes, as owr spessyale trowst ys yn yowr Graee y 
and that yt may layke you w^ all convennynte 
to sende {or me that I may shortely se yowr grace 
wyche ys the thyng that I most dissyr yn thys woirld 
and I and all myn ys at yowr gracs commandmente 
and playsayr. At Parys the vj. day of Marche. 
by yowr lowyng 
suster 

MASY, 

To the Kings Grace 
Uh8 be delivered. 



LETTER XLIII. 

Mary Queen of France to King Henry VIII^ 

[ms. cottov. calig. b. VI. foL 106. Orig,] 

*«* Grainger, in his Biographical History of Bng^fliid, ia|r8 it it 
pretty clear that Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk had gained the affections 
of Mary before she was married to Louis the T wdfth, as, soon afber the death 
of that monarch she plainly told him, that if he did not free her from all her 
scruples within a certain time she would never marry him. His casuistry 
succeeded within the time limited, and she became his wifob Thifl^ Grfdpgar 
adds, was probably with Henry's connivance. But Hall tells the story more 
favourably to Mary. He says that, when Henry was advertssod of her pur- 
pose to return to England, ^' be sent the Duke of Sufiblke, Syr Richard 
Wyngfeld, andDoctor West with a goodly bande of yom^n, all inbla^ to 
Parys, whiche were well recey ved of the new French King, Fraunces the 
First of the name, and dedJirtd tp him, that, according to the covenaimtes 
made at the tyme of the manage betwene King Loyes and the lady Mari^, 
sister to the Kinge of Englande, they demanded to have the said Quene 
delivered to thenvwith her dower ; and shewed their commission for the re- 



0EI6TKAL L£TT£BS4 IS3 

eeiteofher. Thentkecoiili88iUafFria)ee,aeo)idiiig9totlie»ppojki^^ 
assigned her a 4ower, and the Duke of Suffolke put in officers, and then 
she was by endenture delivered to ftie Duke, which bditfved himself so to 
her, that he obteyned her good will to be her hutbande, and therapon he 
wrote to the King her brother, mekely besechyng hym of pardon of his 
request and humbly requiring him of his wil and consent, at which thynge 
the Kyng awhile staled, and at the last by the meaUe of the Fienche 
Queue herselfe, and other great frendes on the dukes parte, after long suyte, 
it was agreed that the Duke of Sufiblke should bring her hito England 
unmaryedf and at his retome to mary her in England : but for doubt of 
chaunge he maryed her secretely in Parys as was sayde" *. 

The open solemnity of this Marriage took place subsequently at Calais. 
But certain it is that Henry the Eighth, in a very short time, affected to 
be displeased at it. Several of Mary's Letters to appease him are still re- 
maining '*, though much injured by fire. In otie, she says, '^ Pleasythe yt 
yowr Grace to my hertyest dyscomt'orte, sorow, and dysconsolacyon, but 
lately I have been afartysed ^ of the grete and bye desplaysowr wychc 
yowr H3mes berythe to me and my Lord of 6owffi>lke, for the maryage 
betwene us. Where I wele ^ not in ony W3rse denye bwt e that I have 
ofiendyd yowr Grace, for the wyche I do pwt* my selefeK most humbly 
in yowr demens^ and marcy.** 8he next proceedQ to assure him th»t 
she did not enter into the marriage ^' of any synswale appetyde :** and 
here the intelligible portion of the Letter ends. 

A reconciliation however soon took place. The Duke of Suffolk, who 
had been brought up with Henry, not only knew his disposition but how to 
conform to it. His skill in, as wdl as love for martial exercises, suited 
Henry's taste : and he appears never to have been presumptuous in con^ 
sequence of lus connexion with royalty. The motto on a label appended 
to his lance, in the Picture of Mary and him at Strawberry Hill, indicates 
his knowledge of the world, at least in diis instance : 

'* Cloth of gold do not despise. . 
Thoupih thou be nMrtch** with rfrtth of Mta : 
Cloth of friz? he not too bold. 
Though thou be nukteh'd vrith doth of gold.'* 

The oonfbnmty which Mary aiid the Duke of SttjflTolk shewed lo 0eitty*s 
inclinations cannot be better explained than in the following Ijetter. 



My most d^est and ryt entierly belowyde Lord 
. . * brpthare, yn my most humble wys I recommande 

> H&U, edit. 1809. p. 682. •> MS. Cotton. Calig. d* vi. fol.243 & scqq. 

s advertised. * will. • but ' put. • self. ■* clemency. * and. 



124 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

me unto yowr Grace, shawynge unto yowr Grace that 
I do a pa • ... by my Lord my howsbande that 
y . . * ar playsayde and oontentyde that he shak re« 
sorde^ cm to yowr presence at swche^ tyme as yowr 
Grace shale be at hys maner of Donyngton, wherby I 
se wele he hys merwosly ^ rejoysyd and moche com* 
fortyd that yt hathe lyked your Grace so to be play* 
sayd ; for the wyche yowr specyale goodnys to hym 
showyd yn that be halfe, and for sondry and many oder 
yowr kyndnes, as wele to me as to hym showed and 
gewyn yn dyvers cawsys, I most humbly thanke yowr 
Grace ; assewr3mg yow that for the same I acc(»npt my 
selfe as moche bonden un to yowr Grace as ewer ^ swster 
was to brother : and accordyng ther un to I shale to the 
beste of my powr dowryng my lyef, endver myselfe as 
ferre as in me shale be possyble to do the thyng that 
shale stond with yowr playsowr, and yf it had be tyme 
convenyente to yowr Grace hade be ther wythe pleas- 
syd I wolde most gladly have accompanyd my sayd 
Lord yn thys yowmay ^. Bwt I trowst that bowthe 
I and my sayd Lord shal se yow acordyng as yowr 
Grace worte« yn yowr laste Letters unto my sayde 
Lord, wych ys the thyng that I dessyr more to opte3m 
than all the honor off the Worlde. And thws I be- 
seche owre Lorde to send unto yow, my most dereste 
and enterly be lowyd brother and Lord, long and prog. 

■ you. »> icdort. « such. i marvellously. 

• ever. ' journey. f wrote. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 1^ 

perows lyfe with the fole accomplyshment of al yowr 
honorable dessyrs, most humbly prayeng yowr Grace 
that I may be humbly recomanded unto my most derest 
and beste be lowyd suster the Quene Grace, and to the 
Quene off Scottys my welbelowyd suster, trowstjrng 
that she be asserteyned fix)me yowr Grace of the pros* 
perows estate and helthe of my everly beloved ny. . .* 
the prences, to home I pray God send long lyfe. Frome 
Letheryng in Swf *> the ix. day off Septembur, by the 
hand of yowr lowyng suster 

MARY QUENE OFF FRANCE, 



LETTER XLIV. 

King Henry the Eighth to Cardinal WoUey* 
[ms. cotton. VESt>. F. III. foL 34 b. OrigJ] 

*«* There id nothing hi the contents of this Letter to£K:its date.wiih 
precision. It was evidently written at one of those times when Henrj 
hoped for a son from Catherine of Arragon; and, ftbm the'addiiess ^ 
*^ My lord Cardmal,'* with which it begins, it could not have bqeii written 
before 1515 : in the sunmier of wliidi year, says Hall, '' a letter was 
brought to the archbishop from Rome, Certifying: hlih how he wad elected 
. t9 be a Cardinal, which incontinent shewed the same, to the King, ^Uh- 
abling himself in words, though his entent was otherwise ; and so the 
Kin^ did encourage him, and tdUed hhn to take Ae order cm him^ and 
wcxSSaSiYaai.My lord Car^^mal^^ . .^ 

.Queen Catherine was probably pregnant at this time with the Princess 
• Mary. •'■,■• • ' 

And here, perhaps, it niay , not be entirdy; uie^van^t tp nmaik, .that 

• • nyphewjj. •» Sufiblk. 



1% O&IGINAL LETTERS. 

though out Hiflorians, geDerally spcakix^, oame thiee children onl|r a^ 
the issue of Henry and Catherine, yet one or two writers speak of moie. 
Afason, in his Vindicis Ecdesise Ang^ioanae, p. 147* flays of HflBiy, 
^*- Katharin am in uxorem anno 1509, tertip nonas Junii, palam Aeci|peret. 
Quid multis ? Vlginti annos cum ilia versatur, tres filios duasque 
TTi.iAfl ex eadem piroereat Quonim tamen nuUus diu ^rixk, ai uniouft 
JVf aiiain excepero :** and this is in some degree conrobQ^nted by CaidiBal 
Pole, who in his Apol. ad Car. V. Caes. p. 162. says, " liberos plures 
«x «tt sttfloepit. 8i vero reliqui decesseiint, at unam seliqait." 



My Lord Cardinall I i-eoommaad Tnto yaw as httv 
tely as I can, and I amine rygbt glade toh^re of yeur 
good helthe, whyche I pray god may long conityBV. 
So it is that I have resavyd your letters, to the whyche 
(by cause they aske long wrytyng) I have made an- 
swar by my Secretary. Tow thyyngs ther be whyche 
be so secrete that they cause me at thys tyme to 
wrytte to yow my$el£? ; >th? won is that I trust the 
quene my wyffe be with chylde^ the other is chefe 
cause why I am soo lothe to repayre to L6n6k)n ward, 
by cause aboght thys tyme is partly <jff heir dangerus 
tymes and by cause off that I wolde iremevrd h^r as 
Jyttyll as I may now. My lord I wrytt thys vntp 
[you] nott as a^tosuryd thyng but as a tkyng.'9rl^erin 
I have grette hoppe a-nd lyklyodes ; and by cause 'I 
do well know that thys thyng wyll be comfortabyll to 
yow to understand : therfor I 4q wrytt itt ^ntp yow at 
thys tyme. No more to yow «tt thys tyme^ niri quod 
Deus velit inceptum opus bene finiri. Wryttjrn with 
the hand off your lovyng Prynce 

HENRY R. 



OEIQINAL LETTEES. ISH 

LETTER XLV. 

Margaret Queen of Scotland to Lord Dacre, 

[M8. COTtON. CALI0. B. VI. foL 84. (Mg*] 

*^* This and the four succeeding Letters yf Margaret Queen of Scot- 
land are rathto Specimens of her epistolaify stjile, dian historical illustra- 
tions. The Letter immediately before the reader appears to have been 
written by her in September 1515, when she was solicited by Lord Dacre 
to leave Scotland. Tile next Letter, to Wols^» seemK to have t>eea 
written after she had reached England. The third is to Henry the Eighth, 
iHMtt upon h«r journ^ to LdndoB^ lo 1610. Th6 fetorA atA&Hh me to 
Wolse|r< one, asking for a supply of money ; the other r^pecting her 
going to Baynards -Castle. " The Queen of Scotts,*' wiys Lord Herbert, 
^^ cooniiig to Lottden May ^* U^lfi, was tnu^ weioamtdhf tfie King, the 
Queen and her sister Queen Mary, whp aU enjoyed therein a happincw 
rare for Princes in that kind, which was to see one another al^ ifaey were 
once ^fOBfd nf aJnouU" .Mtapmt jrMonied to ftxKUnd lA iht! jooidh 
of June 1517. . 



MY iiOftDE DAKE&S 

I CQMJ2ND ine tazou as hartslf as I caft^ and I jhsre 
seen zour vr}rteng * and ®ndaistBDde at leDgfli, kad I 
Tpastayivetbiat z^ xr nokiht sykerly ^ inibrmyd In iidiat 
sUi I stand in, for ze trow yat I may pas Vhar ever I 
•vyl jrysbj^ i» howht larw *^; but yes ^ berrar cau «ch<Kir 
;zon ye iPoinrlii^ of all» aiftd vlaat my mynd is, axfdMow 
I mn icqfcisibrayiid to doo h gan my Tyl. Aiid I paitf 
aou gyf hm ^ kredens as ze vald^ doo to xr^ Btife^ ^sir 
it is owr langs to vryt, for I have giic^ irast in yes 4 
man. And send me zoiir ut^r mjitnd and ansuer in 
all thyng : and God kyfueani. Vryten vy* ^ my hand 
yes ^ Monday. 

Zour frend 

V 
MARGAREdr R. 

■ writing. •• surely. • true. ' this. • truth. ' him. 

( over long. •* with. 



im Oftiat^AL LETTERS. 

LETTER XLVI. 

Margaret Queen of Scotland to Cardinal WdUey, 

[m8. cottok. vesp. f. III. foL 36. Orig,'\ 



My lorde Cardnal I comand * me hartly to zou, aiid 
t am glad to here that ze doo veil, and I have ressauet 
a letter from you and a nother from my lorde Dakers 
vher of I belefiFe you know the effey t» Ze vryte to me 
that sych parssons as he sent for my maters in to 
; Scotland trust to be veil ansuerd, and hath sait to me 
sysch vrytengs as thay sent to hym. But liiy lorde 1 
am gladar of the tydengs that the Kyngs grace teld 
me of the Duk of Albane, that he vyl com hyther, 
vysche I besech God may be trw, but I dred k be 
not. My lorde I th3mke ryght longe vyhil I q)eke 
vyth you, for next the Kyngs grace my most ti^st is 
in you, and you may doo me moste good oi any,, and. I 
pray you my lorde as soon as any body oomes put of 
Scotland that you vyl send me vorde, for I thynke 
long tyl I here tydengs. No more : but' God have 
zou in hys k3rpeng 

Zourfrend ' 

MAEGAEETR. 



OSIGIXAL LETTERS. 129 

LETTER XLVII. 

Margaret Queen of Scotland to King Henry the VII I^, 

A. D. 1516. 

[XS. COTTOK. CALIG. B. I. fol. 20 b. Orig.] 



Derest broder as hartly as I can I recomend me 
onto you, and let you vyt that yestemyght I cam 
h3rther, soo beyng confortted of you in my jomay in 
many and soondry wyses that, lovyng be to our Lorde 
Grod, I am in ryght good heal, and as joyous of my 
sayd Jomay towarde you as (Miy woman may be in 
commjHig to her broder, as I have gret cause, and 
am moost desirous now to com to your presens and 
to have sight of your person, in whom next God, is 
myn oonly trust and confydens: advertissing you 
derest brotder I have reseved thys day a Letter from 
my soons ambassadors, now at London, which Leter 
I send on to you heryinne closed, and have adressed 
on to them mjm ansuer severally in twoe sondery 
lettres, copy wher of I all so sende on to you, that 
apon notice had of the same it may lyke you to co- 
mand whether of the said letters ye seme besst at 
your plessur shall be delyverd. And the Holy Tre- 
nyte have you my most derest broder in tuycion and 
governance. At Stony Stretford the xxvij. day of 

Apryll. 

Zour loveng suster 
Unto my dereste broder the MARGARET. 

King's Grace. 

VOL. I. K 



130 OBIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER XLVIII. 

Queen Margaret to Ca/rdinal Wolsey. 
[ms. cottom. calig. b. I. fol. 202.] 



My Lorde Cardind I c(»»and me to you, and I 
vould fayne have spokyn vyth you but ye var gem or 
I coud cam to you and therfor 1 most vryt to you ray 
mynde. My Lorde I besedie you to schw your gud 
m3md to me, as ye have doon ever, but specyaly now, 
for now ys the tjnne. Me Lorde I pray you hartly to 
get me som monne aganst . . yr day for ye knaw voll 
I moust gyf part of rewards and other nedful thytigs 
both for the kjmg my brothers honour and mytie : and 
I schal not put you in no more troubul but I be sysdi 
you hartly my Lorde that I may have it to morow at 
nyght at the farest : for ells I vyl be dysapointtyd. 
But I put my hooU trust in you, and thys berar schal 
wayt apon you for your ansuer as our Lord knoutlit 

wham kype you 

Mab^aeet R. . ' 
On To my Lorde Kardenall. 



LETTER XLIX. 

Queen Ma/rga/ret to Cardinal WoUey. 
[ms. cotton, calig. b. I. fol. 261.] 



My Lorde Cardnal I comand me to you as hartly 
as I can^lmd vyt ze my lorde that I have spokyn vy* 



OBIGINAL LETTERS. 131 

James Aborrow and he hath schwn to me that ze and 
the Icnndys of Cownsel vould not that I schuld cam to 
haynears castel to day. My Lco^e I wyl doo as ze 
thynke best but I pray you my Lorde as hartly as I 
can gyf ther be no trubyl to day to lat me com to 
morow^i I trust to God ther sdiat b6 noo lych trobyl 
but that I may cam to morow for and it be veil thys 
nyght I trust to god the varst be past. And my 
Lorde I have I part of thyngs to doo that I inost^nedes 
have doon that vyll be nedfol to me. I pray my lorde 
to lat me have your aunsuer vyth thes berar and Grod 
have you in hys kypeng. ■ ' 

Yours 

Margahet'R. 
To my Lorde Cardoal. 



LETTER L. 



TJiomas Lord Dacre to Cardinal Wcisey. a. d. 1516. 
boasting that he maintains and gives rewards to 
Scottish OuMaws^ 

[ms. cot TDK. CALIO. B. I. foL 150. Orig,'\ 



My Lord, pleas it your Grace I have recejrved a 
Lettre from Clarendeux King at Armes* to be sende 

• Thomas Benolt was appointed Clareicieux in 1510. He died May 8*1*. 1534. 



182 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

unto your Grace, also I have receyved an oder Letti^ 
Rent to my self from the said Clarencieux wherby I 
percejrve, and by such mutuall communicacion as hath 
bene betwene us twa}m, aswell sens his departure from 
your Grace as afore, there was tokyns devised betwene 
us howe I shuld knowe as he sped, and howe he shuid 
knowe what practises as I dalt withall. 

Wherupon by his said lettre to me nowe directed I 
perceyve that it resteth upon the aunsuer of the 
Frenche Kinge commyng with Lafaycte. And because 
I se that he gooth not so shortely to werke, but dry- 
veth the tyme, I labor and studies all that I can to 
make division and debate to thentent that if the Duke 
woll not applie hym self, that thenne that debate may 
growe that it shalbe impossible to hym to do justice : 
and for that entended purpose in that behalf I have the 
Maister of Kilmawers kepte in my howse secretely, 
whiche is oon of the greatest parties in Scotlande ; as 
the Queue canne declare unto your Grace, or any other 
Scotts man, if it like your Grace to demande them. 
And also I have secrete messages from th^eiie of 
Angus and oder, whiche I truste shalbe to the pleasor 
of the Kings Grace if the said Duke applie not hym- 
self : and also hath cccc*. owtlawes (and geveththem 
rewardes) that bumeth and destroyeth dayly in Scot- 
lande ; all being Scottsmen whiche shuld be undre the 
obeysaunce of Scotlande. And if the said Duke woll 
applie liym to the Kings pleasor then shall all these 



ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 133 

practises be voyde and of none efipect : and the said 
Maister of Kilmawers to be putte to his owne fende at 
his libertie in secrete maner. ' 

And afibr any of the Kings subjects that maketh 
any defaulte contrary to the last Recesse, I shall aun- 
suer therfore, wherby the Kings grace shall not be 
chargied. 

The viij*? daye of this moneth I sent into Scotlande 
the M*!. of the College of Graistok with such oder per- 
sons as I nominated to your Grace in the _Quene$ 
Commission fcwr reysing and leveing of her conjuncte 
feoffement, and for receyving of her plate and Jewells 
according to the said kste Recesse made by the Am- 
bassadors of Scotlande : where as, they were well takyn 
]tvith, with the said Duke, and where as Clarencieux 
was present. And there deliverance was that they 
should go to the Queues dominions and lands, and there 
to receyve her rents and revenues, and caused Ros 
harrold", and Davy Purves sergeant at Armes, to go 
with theym to se if any wold disobey theym. And ^& 
further newes occurres worthy advertisement your 
Grace shalbe advertised with all diligence. And the 
Holy Trinite have your Grace in his preservacion. 
At Kirkoswald the xxiij. daye of Auguste 

Yowrs with hyes* serves 

THOMAS DACa^. 

To my Lorde Cardinallis 
Grace. 

• herald. * hfc. 



134 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER LI. 

ly. Cuthbert TumtaU to King Hemy the Eighth 
concerning MaximUian's proposed to resign the 
Empire to Henry, a. d. 161T 

[ms. cotton, oalba b. v. fol. 72. Orig.] 

*^* Hume states that Richard Pace was the person who waned Hemy 
the Eighth of Maximilian's motives in his oiier to resign the Empire. 

The amhassadoTs, however, to whom the offer was made, were the Ead of 
Worcester, and D'. Cuthhert Tunstall afterwards bishop of Durham; and 
the communication of it to Henry, as is evident from the following Letto^ 
was left to TuKSTALL alone. In another Letter, from the Emperor's Court, 
he says, '' Here we find great dissimulation and fair words, but no promises 
be kept." A consolatory Letter from this prelate to the King upon liie 
death of Jane Seymour in 1537, is printed in Burnet's Appendix. 



Plese it your Grace to undirstond that besids al 
other maters contenyd in our Lettres jointly written 
at thys tyme to your Grace, oon is in them untowchyd 
by cause I wold not make my clerke privey to the se- 
cretie theroff, which yff I shold not to longe have taried 
the last curror* save thys, I shold then have writtai. 
But by cause then we wer sent for to come to th'em. 
peror commissionars, and our Lettres wer redy written 
conten}mg a longe discurse and declaration off many 
mattres shewyd by the Cardinal Sedunensis which was 
necessary your Grace shold know in al haste, we ther- 
for not knowinge how long th'emperors commissioners 
shuld ]ete*» us, dispached that poste, reservyng thys to 

» courier. »» let, hinder. 



be writteii by my selffat lajsar whidi then I had not. 

The thinge is this. . The said Cardinal Sedunens. in 

inakinge hi» long discmrse hertofor by us written, 

emongest other thkigs diewyd me that oon <^ the se* 

Crete mater stretydbetu3rx th'^^npeior and your Grace 

was that th'^emperor entendeth to redgHe the Empire 

unto y6ur Grace, and to obten your Election by hys 

procurement and soUicdtinge off the Electee's thoimtc^ 

which th^mperor enti^dyd to do for the avaneement of 

your honor and the lov6 which he bmth you. Which 

msater. when I herd I lete as I liothynge had marked it, 

and lete hjrm passe on in tellynge off his tale which 

endyd in thys, that thys thynge.shpld be ooa off the 

secrete maters treatid by hym betwix th"'Emperor and 

your Grace. Site besids that I am your Graces sub* 

ject and servant^ and swotn off yojur counsel thoff * 

unworthi, your Grace hath also sheWyd so largely your 

bounteousnes andliberalite anenst me that I ougth ijio 

to desire the incresement and augmentation c^ your 

Graces honor then any servaunt to your Grace belong^- 

inge. Which I assure your Grace I ^oo tendre as 

mo^ to my symple powar as any subjiet in yoinr realme 

or ellys it wer pitie I shuld lyre. And lykwyse yff 

therbe any thjmge soundinge to your Grace's damage 

or hynderaunce iff I shold concele it ; ther coud no pain 

be to great for me. Wherfor I most himibly besech 

your Grace to accepte graciously and favorably the 

»ttw>agh. • 



136 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

thinge which now I write both for the ardent love 
which I here unto your Grace, and for the accomplish- 
ment off my dutie. Surly yff it lyke your Grace I 
thinke the said Election off your Grace to th^empire 
cannot be brogth aboute by no means, for diverse con- 
siderations. Fjrrste that lyke as in the Election off the 
Pope a certain forme is to be kept which not observed 
makith the Election to be voyd, so off aundent tjrme 
and ordinaunce off the universale churche a certain 
forme must be observyd in chesinge off th'emp«tir, 
which ometted, the Election is voyde. Oon of the 
cheffe points in the Election off th'*emperor is that he 
which shal be electyd must be off Germanic subgiet to 
[the] Empire ; wheras your Grace is not, nor never 
sithen the Cristen faith the Kings of Englond wer sub- 
giet to th'empire. But the Crown of Englond is an 
Empire off hitselff mych bettjrr then now the Empire 
of Rome : for which cause your Grace werith a close 
Crown. And therfor yff ye wer chosen, sens your 
Grace is not off th^empire the Election wer voide. And 
iff your Grace shuld accepte the said Election therby 
ye must confesse your realme to be under subjection 
off th'^empire to the perpetual jprejudice off your suc- 
cessor, or ells the said Election wer voyde as made off 
a person npt eligible.' Besids that the forme off the 
Election contenyth that first he must be Einge of Ro- 
mains and the coronation at Rome makith hjrm have 
the name off the Emperor, wher befor he is callyd but 



ORIGINAL L£TT£aS. 137 

Kinge off Romains. Over thys yff th'emperor which 
nou is remain stil Kyng off Romains as I understond 
he entaideth to doo, then yff your Grace wer eligible 
and undir th'empire, yet ye coud not be chosen Em- 
peror, 1^ cause ye were never Einge of Romains. And 
also he remanyng ye could not be chosen Kynge off 
Romains, bycause the Eingdome is not voyde, and 
noon can be chosen therto but when it is voyd edyr by 
dethe or ellys when the Kinge off Romains is crowliyd 
Emperor, wherby undir hym may be chosen a Kinge 
off Romains. The said Empire also (as it is now esta- 
blyshed) may not have two Emperors at oon tjrme, 
but oon as cheff, and the odyr as here^ apparaunt, 
which is callyd the Kinge off Romains, wher he must 
begyn that wyl come to th^empire. For which con- 
siderations I repute it impossible (the laws thecim made 
stci^dinge) that your Grace may be chosen. And I am 
afferd lest the said offer beinge so speciouse at the first 
heringe was oonly made to get therby sum money of 
your Grace : Which they move to have kepte secret 
lest the publyshynge off it shuld make their intent to be 
knowen, and frustrate them off thir purpose befor they 
coud acheve it. Surly yff it lyke your Grace my sim- 
ple advise is that your Grace interpretinge al to the 
beste, and the said offer to be made rather off th^em- 
perors good mynd and ^ete benivolence then for odyr 
purpose, yff the mater shal herafter be set forward or 

• heir. 



138 ORIGINAL L£TT£K8. 

movyd to gyflF most exquisite thanks to th'emperor for 
his good mynd therin : which peraventure may procede 
off good benivolence, and so to withdraw your fote bake 
out off that mater, and to make good interpretation 
opon so grete an offer, which shal be most honorable. 
Thus in thys mater I have shewed my simple advise 
and mynd ; which, I thougth, my dutie savyd, I could 
not kepe close jfrom your Grace, wherin I trust such 
as be lemyd in the law far bettyr then I wil afferme the 
same if it lyke your Grace to make them privey to it. 
And iff I doo erre, as I suppose I do not, I submitte 
to reformation besechinge your Grace graciously to 
accepte my trew mynde and rygth meanyng in tfayi 
mater, which I have touchyd for my discharge lest her* 
affter it mygth be imputyd to me not to have shewyd 
it in tyme when it came first to my knowl^;e. In al 
other maters at thys tyme we have written at large how 
her we find not al persons inclyned at « it was thougth 
they shold be. And thus Almyghty Jhu preserve jout 
Grace to his plesur with encrese off mych honor. From 
Machlyn the xij^ day of Februarie 

By your most humble 
subjecte and servaunt 

.. CUTBBSBT TUNSTAL. 



O&IGIKAL LETTESS. 139 

LETTER LII. 

Sir Richard Wingjield to Kvng Henry the Eighth. 
March 16*^ 1519. 

[ms. cotton, calig. d. VII. foL 182. Orig,] 

*»* Four days after the rigning of the Treaties concluded at London on 
tile fourth of October 1518, fbr the maniage af the Princess Mary with the 
Dauphin of France, the delivery of Toumay to the French, and die mutual 
prevention of depredations, a farther Treaty was concluded for an Interview 
between Henry the Eighth and Francis the Fast, which Interview was 
agreed to be had before the end of July following at Sandifield, situated 
beyond Calais, between the limits of the respective territories. To this 
Agreement the ftdlowing'Letter from Sir Richard Wingfield to King Henry 
the Eighth alludes. The Interview, however, was put offtill 1526, in con- 
sequence of the death of the Emperor Maximilian, the succession to whose 
dignity eocdted a idvalship between Francis the First and Charles King of 
Castile, the grandson of Maximilian. 



Please yt your Highnesse to undiBTstand that the 
xiiij^ day of this Month I wrote to your Grace my last 
Lettres, and as yesterday, at aftemone the Great Mas« 
ter came from Sa3mt Germains diere bs the King lieth, 
hither to this Town, and as soon aa I hard^ that he 
was come I went to him to his lodging where I found 
with him the Chaunoeller, the bishop of Paris, Robert 
tet, and Vyl Roy, wher he todd me that he had com- 
moned with the King liis Master of the Meeting asid 
Entrevi&w that shuld be betwixt your Highnesse and 
hym, and made me to sytt down with them and sayd 
I shuld have aunswer to every Article of myn Instruct 

• heard. 



140 OEIGIKAL L£TT£ES. 

tions concemyng the said Entreview and Meeteng. 
And first told me that as to the t3nne of the meting the 
King here is content, and thinketh it convenient to be 
in the myddest of the moneth of July, as your Grace 
hath devysed. 

And as to the place of the first meting which they 
think necessarye is to be in a place neutrall, whidi 
place I have rehersed to them hath been viewed by 
th''Erle of Worcester and the Captayn of Bolayn *, he 
sayth the King here is content with that if better can 
nat be founde. Howbeit the Great Master sayeth that 
if it pleased your Highnesse to be lodged at Guysnes, 
and the King here to be lodged at Arde which is but 
a league asonder he thinketh it most convenyent. 
Orels ^ if good serch were made by some oon of Calais 
such as it would please your Highnesse ^appoint, and 
the King here t'appoint another, there mought be found, 
upon the borders there, more convenyent place than 
that, seing that there is noo houses nor village nere it. 

And as to the next article of myn Instructions, which 
is that both your Highnesse and the King here, the 
Queens, and all the nobles shuld mete on horsebacke, 
and after th'*imbracyng of eche other familiarly they 
shuld repaire streyt to Calais ; as to the meting and 
embrasyng one an other a horsback without discend- 
yng, he sayth the King here thinketh it very good, and 
is content therewith, whersomever the Meting shal be ; 

■ Boulogne. k or else. 



•W:GX9L&]1 ZKTTTESf^ 141 



but to R|HR atiavt feoH dhen» 09 1 
at diefint tfse, he svcA tbe d^ &b : 
not eaBaem AaUK and tfamLsA k woe hoc < 
entybirt aajlhu wgebettgrAat ynBrffigj biUiHL were 
lodged IB KHBe Tilb^ wkfaoi tke Eii^f^ pak M* ji^ 
maybefcimddbgiea ujmJii i gy aadif aat iainoiir teats 
and por^ffioBa;, »*■■? dbat it k oa iiaiiii ly aad he to 
doo so Hkevke for Us part witkiB lib grooBd 
Us . . . wUdier idk* of too ai^jhl rcpaire to < 
after j«iiir first . . .^atTonr plesmcs: aads^ditliat 
afterthefirst daf of BKtiiig . . . of good oangraenoe 
must nedes be in a ^ace neotndl faodh tar tout ban- 
nan andincontentatiaoof jour PepoD, the next daj 
after the King and the Quene here shal be content to 
come and Trsjrte jaar Hi^mesBe and the Quenes 
&aoe wheresomever jonr lodging be, so that it be 
without Calais. And to induce them that the Kin^ 
Highness mi^it come to Calais I have shewed them 
all the considerations wfaidi bee recjted at knght in 
mjm Instructions: shewing them . . .^ without Us 
comming to Calais as in my said Instruccyons moch 
of the homiOT of the said Meting shal be lost : and that 
it cannot bee soo honorably docm as it shuld be if it 
pleased hym to come to Calais. Also for their further 
cc»itentation and to meve ^ them to come to Calais with- 
out stoppe or difficultie I have shewed them as is in 
th'*instruccions : that inasmoch as your Grace shall not 

■ each. * /. meting. « /: that. * move. 



142 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

oonly . . . and take a right great journey before you 
come to the See, but also must passe the See which it 
painfuD, laborous, and duangerous : and after so long 
passage to mete with the Kinge . . .* at a fittot 
syted in the confynes of his own Reahne having his 
hoole power at his backe, where as your Highnesse 
commyth with a small companye, your puissaunoe 
being seperate from you by the mayn See, who so eret 
shall see or considre thesame must judge that by your 

said comming over the See to hym and m * 

first in the place newtrall, by reason whereof your High- 
nesse commytteth your noble personne to the trust, 
confidence, and a .... of the King here; In con- 
sideration whereof if the King here * Calais 

at youre Graces desire, the honnor and preemynence 
. . . . ^ his as of reason it ought so to be. And as your 
Grace is the .... aggreable accordingly, and ftnr an 
equall corespondent I have . . . « the great Master 
that your Highnesse woll not stycke to v . . . . . ' 
here in his town of Bolayne if your Grace be therunto 
req . . . . ^ Whereunto they made me aunswer in 
making as great dyf . . . ^ your Grace shuld come to 
Bolayn as they doo that the King here shuld come to 
Calais, sayeng that by reason of the deth that has been 
there and is there yet, and also that the Towne . . ■ 
so . . . lykening it to a Dove hows, with many other 

• /. here. b /. meting. « /. come to. * /. shall be. • /. told. 

' /. visit him. g required. »« difficulty that. » i». 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 143 

excuses so that I perceyve well it is not their mynd to 
have your Highnesse to Bolayn sayeng that the King 
here woll nat comme there hymself. 

Also the great Mast^, the Chaunceler, and the 
biashop of Parys saye that if your Highnesse and the 
King here shuld bee both lodged owther in Calais or 
in Bplayn with botfi your traynes, which is at the lest 
a vj* thousand persones besides diem of the Towne 
ffrhere mygbt by the reason of a variett, or a page, or 
by a ^asueltye of j^er oome mxj occasion of debate, or 
whereby myght ryse any alann^ it mou^ be to ib^ia- 
quietness, disturbaunce, and daiii^;ar of you boCh^ In 
^sample whereof the biasbc^ of Parys nliersed of a 
great fraye of fyer that was at Cambray at the great 
meeting there, which he sayth my lord of Norfolk can 
well tell of. Also the great Mastar consideryth that 
in July the time ci the meeting slial be llie hotted 
seascm of all the year, and whan folks drynk most, wad 
thinkedi that amongs such a multitude of pepoU some 
djronke^ perscwme my^ cause incoDrenJenee. In 
eschewing wh&reot the great MaaUTf the CbaneeUor^ 
and the Ushop ot Parys be in the mmd that netber 
the King here sliuld come to Cabas, nor your Graee 
should not come to Bc^ayn to iod|^ there. Him be 
it, the great Master aqrth that he thinkedi venjty that 
if your Highnesse lye at Calais that the Kii^ Ua Mas- 
ter woll eome, with a certam with him, mid see your 
Grace in Calais in maskyr, and saith that after your 



144 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Grace and the King here have seen oones togyther 
he puttyth no doubte but that ye shall mete oftyn by 
your owne accorde. 

Also they thinke it good and convenient that when 
it shall fortune your Highnesse and the Queens's grace 
with your trayne to be uppon his ground and in his 
domynion, that your Grace, the Queens Grace, and 
your trayn shall have the sovereignty, honnor, and the 
right hand, as they think that your pleasure shalbe to 
give the King here and his trayn the same, whan they 
shalbe in your grounde and in your domynyon. 

And as to the nombre that shall come with your 
Grace to the meting that is comprised in a Rolle; 
wherof they have the copye ; they think it very good, 
and woll order the Kings nombre here according to 
the same. 

And also as to an Article in the said Instructions 
concerning the ... of Apparell of every astate and 

personne, they think it like it very well, 

and say that they woll drawe a booke of • 

Howe be it the great Master tellyth me that for all the 
Princes of the Sangue Ryall, which be Mess" Delaun* 
son, de Burbon, de Vandosme, de Seynt Poll, de la 
Rosche Furyon, and the chief Officers, as the Ccmsta- 
ble, the iij . Mareschalls, the great Master, th^Admirall, 
with divers other, can in no wise bee comprised in any 
. . . ^^ for Array ; but they to were ^ at their pleasure. 

• /. the same. «» /. Rolle. • wear. 



OaiGINAL LETTERS. 145 

This aunswer at ... . this time, as touching your 
Meting and Enterview I have of the Great Master, 
which he hath promysed me with his furthur devise 
he woll dely ver tne in writing this day or to morrow. 

He toold me also that he was specially charged by 
tKfe King his Master, that he shuld speke to me to wryte 
to your Highnesse with diligence that when he sayth 
it was agreed betwixt your Highnesse and the King 
here that what tyme it shuld please God to send tbe 
Queens Grace a Prince or a Princesse, that the King 
here shuld be godfather to the Prince, or the Quene 
here to be godmother if it were a Princesse, and to 
here the name after them. Soo the King here desi- 
reth your Highnesse at this tyme that if the Queen 
here shall have a sonne that it wold please your Grace 
to be godfather, and that it may be named after your 
Highnesse Har . . . ." if it be a doughter that it may 
be named after the Quene Kateryn; whereof he 
prayed me to wryte to your Grace and .... that the 
King here shuld wryte to his ambassador in E . . . .^ 
of the same. Also he tellyth me that the Quene is at 

Sain and is mery for a woman being in her 

case so nere her . . . . *^ and loketh every day to be 
delivered before th'ende of this .... a of March. 
And as to th'aunswer that I have for the .... of the 
Marchaunts I wryte at this time more at length . . « 
my Lord Legat and Cardinal! of England. Beseching 

• /. Harry, and. * England. • time. * month. « to, 

VOL. I. ^ T. 




i,irm3L T"T^ 






^ 14if*ii. m n^ Vt twr, JR itie iiCerwrisg Leaer 6«tt Mi ••• i«iM»- 
4^ ; MU0 tt4^, m m i ru^ r . m fv^sr «3aD|f a ae neoeafiBg Lens dMt fee 
»A*// yt*mrA^A h,* ^v;y>rt •// O.^?^ "/ Cjuscjc; 4t Leeaor €muitdB% it 
^iw #«^*fv«4 V/ f/7 <rw f rwtfli wr.hitwrwlar is Spun as « Arlsiiif *• 
M«f^/|; f4 f^/f|r//«/ h«i(/«equ«Rt]7, Hcsrj icsi Paces die EkcMDUm- 
tttfuut* hU ifwtt yr*it^'*t*fr$%; but fiiiding die EkctoEi iie-aigppd, anS 
^0inilf% Ui^K MAtilHtMfi; to vie with liLi eompctilan in die dittftulion rf 
IfHMKi/"^ ^M* ^ft^H^ hU ftfribitiim widi die leflecdon diat he had solicited 
fill/ Ut''^ 4M»^ h</*(ffi! «lt/i^<ih«r the dupe of his own duflidtj. Pace*! 
IJf^MitMMffi t4» fJM VAmiUnn \tetn so krte a date as May 19^M5ia 

l/hf'rflMMMfily f«;f thf. lUtffiinh Historian a laige portioa of the cone- 
s|HHi/1«iin( ¥/UUU rtUu^ U) thfs Klectfon Ruffbred in the fire wfaidi has been 
Ml i#ri«.ri tmu^irtm\ ( Imi many a curious scrap rsBaaiiis; nsr will evch 
llHtfiiM'MiN III* ilit«|»lMil whtti ihry relate to an event which formed as i| wen 
Ml Hiis III lli«« ki'MithI nyntinii of Kuropc. 

TliM kJiiipunir MaxiiiilllMi diiid Janusry the 22^^. 1619. WffliamKnighl^ 
willlii|{ In riiiilliml WoUry iVmn Wells in Austria, January die 14th, and 
iMiMrliiK m sudlpiiiHt whirh hv hml had, nays ^'butsydithattytneofodni- 
iiMniliitiloii ItU Orncr U mi vsiiquUlusl with iiicknesse, which wasatfirsta 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 147 

cataire, and sythens a flux and fever contynuel, that now every man fe- 
ryth, and almost despayreth of i^iy recovery. I abyde th'ende." * 

Upon the Emperor's death, Henry directed Sir Thomas Edeyn, his 
ambassador at Paris, to sound the intentions of Francis. Sir Thomas saw 
him in his chamber as he returned from mass, where, having read a letter 
delivered to him from Henry, he took Sir Thomas to a window, who urged 
that the two Kings should " take a resolution by common assent." 
" MTicreunto," says Sir Thomas, " he bad me lene out at the window with 
him, and he would tell me what he had done in it, and his hole mynde what 
farther he intended to doo. "^This appears in a Letter dated February th« 
9th. a -^ 

In ano^er I^etter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, to Woteey, dated from Parii 
Feb. 26th. detailing a farther conversation with Francis, he says, *' I was 
so famyliar with hjrni, that I asked hym in emest if he were Emperour 
whether he WGld make a voyage agenst the Infidels in his 'pwpet persoci, 
as the voyce went. He tooke me hard by the wryst with the oon hand, 
and layed the other hand upon his brest, and sware to me by his fbyth yf 
he atteyn to be Emperour, that within three yeareft afiter he wold bee in 
Constantynople, or he would dye by the way." In talking still further of 
the enterprise, Francis told him that '^ his realme was to hym six millicms 
yerely and over thatin value;" and ^' that he wold spend three millions of 
gold" but he would succeed b. In another Letter to Wolsey dated March 
tbe 14th. Sir Thomas represents Fnyicis to have said that now, since Henry 
and he w^re of a mind, neither Emperor nor Pope should be made but 
such as pleased them. This, it is probable, was a speech more especially 
faitended for the ear of Wokey. 

From these notices of convensationsi it will be seen that although the 
promise of Henry*s interest for the Empire in favor of Francis, was not 
<«nnally given till March4he 14^. stb«d beqi verbally promised &em the 
very time of the arrival of the first news of Maximilian's death. 



PtSASYTH it your Higjmesse to understand that 
yesterday I deJyvered your lettre to the Kjug here> 
with as harty and afFectuoua recommendacions from 
your Grace as I icowlde devise. And after he had at 
lenght and with good laysure read over your said let- 
tare, I declared to hym for my credenqie, according to 

• MS. Cottoti. Cftlig. D. tin. foL SS. ^ Ibid. fol. 93. 

l2 



1 **>![) 0BIGI2IAL LSTTfiBlk 

the Meeting he inaid he wold oommim with the < 
Miwter, and within ij. or iij. dayes he wold send hym 
to Psryf^, wher he ahuld make me aunswer of evtsij 
flrt.i<!le (mncemyng the said Entreview and Metmi^ 
And hicaiiHe that the Queue here hath been ^cxy 
iiycke thicm ij. dayen, and in great daunger, as I h»re 
more at large wryten of the same to my lord Tiigpir 
and (!ardinall of England, which I am sure woU dkgwe 
your Orace thereof, I can as yet have no nunmmr 
what order shalbe taken for the Marchaunts matkn^ • 
ReHeching the holy Trynyte long to preserve your 
HighnesHC. From Parys this xiiij'.^ day of Mmrcji- " 

C T7t€ signature hunU qffi) 



LETTER LIV. 
Sir Thfmaa lloleyn to Cardinal Wobey, reporHtig m% 
Aiidlence ^firom the Duchess ofAngoulume, MarA 
^'* li519. 

I Mil. COTTOy, CALIO. D. VII. foL !•&.] 



I Plkamyth it youre] Grace to understand that die 
xxj**^ day of this moneth I wrote my kst Lettn» to 
your (trace, and as yesterday, which was our Lad/s 
(lay, I was at Seynt Germayns, where the Quene and 
my Lady lyeth ; but the King roode on our Ladje^s 
even viij. leges hens, and as my Lady telly th me it is 
in a (lowte whether he comyth ageyn before the 



ORIGINAL LETTI^ES. 151 

Quene here be brought in bedde or nay ; for she look- 
yth her tyme every howre. Also my Lady hiath 
commaunded me, now while the great Master is away, 
that I shuld resorte to her for any thing that I ehxxld 
have to doo fen* the King my Master. And she hath 
promysed me that she woU make me pry ve of such 
newes as she shall here of from any place : and toold 
me that the King her sonne whan he departed willed 
her to shew me a Lettre that cmne now streyt out of 
Spayn from his Ambassadour there, and tberewitball 
she called to her the tresourer Robertet and bad 
bym shewe me that Lettre, wherein was wrytten by 
the said Ambassador whose name is de la Roch^ 
Beauconot, that the King^s Highnesse had late sent a 
Lettre to the King Catholique advertysyng hym how 
the King here had desirfed the King'^s Highnesse by 
his lettres to wryte to th*'Ellectowrs of th*'Empire in 
his favour, the rather to atteyn the dygnyte of th'Em- 
pire ; the which the King's Highness hath refused 
bicause of the Amy tie betwixt the Kings Grace and 
the King Catholique, and how the Kings Highness^ 
had rather that the King Catholique wer Emperowr 
than the King here ; which Lettre he wry teth is in 
th'andes of the Bishop of Bourges * oon of the great 
Counsell of Spajm. Whan I had redde this clawse 
in the Lettre sent out of Spayn, I prayed my Lady 
that she wold gyve 1300 credence to yt, and shewed 

■ Burgos. 



15S ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

her how I thought that the said Ambassad(»r wrote 
this by Informacion of some maliciouse persanne that 
wold sett discord bitwixt Princes ; and that I assured 
her it was not trew. She toold me that she had soo 
perfecte trust in the Kyng my Master's honnor that 
she beleved, nor wold beleve, noo such thing ; and no 
more she sayeth woU the King her sonne: sayeng 
that whan the King here redde the same clause in 
the Lettre wrytten to hym by his Ambassadour in 
Spayn he did but lawgh at it, and gave no credaice 
thereto. And she saied it cowlde nat be trew, for 

the the Kyng's Highnesse 

desyring him to wryte to th 

th'Empire for hym. So that as farre as I can per- 
cey ve neyther my Lady nor the ]^ing her sonne gyve 
noo credence to yt. And as moch as I cowld u>> 
staunce her I have desired her not' to beleve this nor 
noo such thing that shuld be contrary to any thiiig 
that the Kings Highnesse hath promysed or wrytten 
to the King her sonne. My Lady also desireth that 
likewise as I woU make me pryve of every thing that 
shall touch or arr . . . to the Kings Grace to thW 
tent I sliuld advertise the Kings Highnesse and your 
Grace. She likewise desireth to bee advertised of 
any thing apperteynyng to the King her sonne. She 
talked with me also of the Meeting of the Kings 
Highnesse and the King her sonne (which she moch 
desirctli) wherein I shewed her according to myn In- 



ORIGINAL LETTERS* l53 

structions that if it pleased her to m . . . the King 
her Sonne that he wold be content after they had mett 
a horsbak to repaire streyt to Calais where they myght 
be honourably receyved, well and easely lodged, it 
shuld be convenient for their estates. Whereto she 
aunswered that when they had oones mett, she putt 
noo dowtes but they shuld . . . well enough, sayeng 
that after they had ones seen togyther his Highnesse 
shuld desire hym to nothing But he wold gyve thereto 
assent. She sayeng allwaies that it shalbe more 
.... and triumphant to be lodged in sommer in the 
fields in tents and pavilions than it shuld be in any 
Towne. She often .... * me of my Lady Princesse 
and of hir helth, if she hath been syck lately or not. 
Also Madame la Duchesse the Kings syster, the 
Duke of Alaunson's wief, lately hath been and yet, 
is very sycke. When I shall have knowledge of any 
other Newes I shall ... to your Grace of them: 
beseching the holy Trinite long to preserve your 
Grace. From Poyssy a leege from Saint Germains 
this xxvj'^ day of March. 

Yowres m 

Th 

V 

•asked 



154 OEIGINAt LKTTISKS. 



LETTER LV. 

Sir Thomas Boleyn to ^King Henry the Eighth^ cm- 
nouncing the Election of the Emperor Charles the 
Fifth. 

[ms. cotton, calig. d. VII. fol. 140. Orig.] 

Fleasith yt your Grace to understand that the 
first day of this moneth I wrote my last X.€ttres to 
your Grace, and as yet the King is nat retomed from 
Melun, there as he hath been ahnost thes fortenyght 
a huntyng. But hither is come Lettres with great 
dylygence to the King Catholiques Ambassadour from 
Frankford, and from my lady of Savoye, specefieng 
how the King his master the xxviij. day of the last 
moneth, at x. of the clocke afore noon, by th'^aasent 
and hoole voyce of all the Electours was chosen Em- 
peror. And bicause there is yet noo kttres cx>mmea 
out of Almayn to the King nor my Lady here of 
this matier my Lady marvayleth moch, and sajrth she 
feryth that Mons^ L*'admiral is letted or evyll iiu- 
treatyd bicause she hath no word from hym, or elles 
their Post with lettres is taken or stopped by the way. 
Neverthelesse my Lady sayth yf this be trew se3mg 
the King her sonne may nat be Emperor she is ryght 
glad that the King Catholique is chosen. Sayeng 
that though the Kyng her sonne is nat Emperor, yet 
it is a comfort to her that the King her sonnes son in 



OKlGIl^AL L£TT£&S. 155 

lawe is Emperor, How be it the trouth is that both 
the King and my Lady, and all this Contre had ra- 
ther any other had been chosen Emperor than the 
King Catholique. My Lady tellyth me that *he is 
assured it hath cost hym a grejrt good to atteyn to 
this Empire ; in so moch she sayth she lcn(9s¥eth for a 
trouth oon of the Electours hath had of hym two 
hundreth thowsand crownes, and namyng hym of 
Coloigne. She sayth also that the Electours amongs 
them all hath not had of the King her sonne past a 
hundreth thowsand Crownes, and moch she ma ... 
and fereth lest the Admirall be nat well, and sayth 
that the Letter that she had from hym was wrytten 
the XX vj. day of the last moneth, wherein by his wryt- 
ing he had as greAt trust that the King here shuld be 
Emperor as ever he had. And now Mons'. le Bas- 
tard and they of the Counsell here say yt is a good 
tome for the King here, and a great weale for his 
reaulme that he is not Emperor, for they say yf he 
had been it shuld have putt hym to an infante busy- 
ness, and impoverychyd and undoone his subgietts. 
Here is also of late a new Ordenaunce made by the 
King and his Counsell, and gyven to all them that 
have any horses for Posts or Currors*, both here at 
the Cort and at Parys, that payn of their lyves they 
delyver no horse nor horses to any man, ambassador 
or other, except at the Court he have a bill from Ro. 

• Couriers. 



lo6 OUIGIXAL LETTERS. 

bertet in Paiys from the first President there. I 
have been, too, assuryd by my Lady that this is nat 
doon for any Lett of L .... . that goyth in to 
England,^ but as farre as I can knowe that resortyth 
in and owt of Spayn, and my lady hath . . . whan so 
ever I wcAl depeche any lettres by Post. I shall 
stre . . a Bill of Robertett and of the first President 
of Parys . . . whan I woll. 

Besechyng the holy Trinite long to preserve your 
Grace from Poyssy this iiij*** day of July. 
Yours 

T 



LETTER LVI. 



Richard Pace to Cardinal WoLsey^ cm the Election of 
Charles the Fifth, 

[ms. cotton, oalba b. v. fol. 286. Orig.] 

*J^ In the preceding Letters, something has heen said of the bribery 
used at the election for Emperor. In the Letter here presented to the reader, 
we find that, to money and intrigue, intimidation was added. 

Pace, in one ofhis earlier Letters, dated from Mayence, June the twdftfa, 
speaking of the four electors whom Maximilian had engaged in his grand- 
son's interest, says, they were to have " of the said Bang of Castile fifty 
thousand ducats of gold, truly paid unto each of them, within the city of 
Frankfort, electo Rege catholico in Imperatorem." " The Counte de Nas- 
sowe" he adds " hath brought this matter so faire forth that he s»yd four 
electors have accepted the said Kyng of Castiles obligation made thereupon. 
Yf this be true" he continues, " it is of grete importance, and the said King 
of Castile is like undoubtedly to obtain the imperial dignity." 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 157 

In another Letter dated from M ayence, June 21^5 \Sf\9, he says, " ^he 
Fiench King hath promiside double of all that oder princes christian well 
gyve for this Empire. So th^t here is the most dear merchandize that ever 
was sould : and after myne opynyon it shalbe the worst that ever was bought, 
unto hym that shall obtejme it." 



Pleas itt your Grace I have thys daye visite my 
Lady Margarite, and have hadde off herre verraye large 
thanks for that I have doon in Almayne for the Kynge 
CathoUke in the late Election. And all the noble men 
' off thys Courte haith yevyn unto me lyke thanks, and 
interteignydde me here in raoste kynde and lovynge 
maner, wy thoute ony question made unto me off eny 
thynge that I had doon in the sayde late Election for 
the advauncement of the Kjmge our soverayne Lorde, 
as your Grace thoght they wolde have doon, as itt ap- 
peridde bi your laste Lettres directidde unto me. And 
in verraye deade they have no cause to complajme up- 
pon me, for I dydde nevyr speke agaynst the Kynge 
catholike in the sayde Election, considerynge that itt 
was sufficient to me to have the Electors speke agaynst 
hym, and allege reasons whye he schulde nott be elect- 
idde ; ande suerly they wolde nott have electidde hym 
yff fere off there persons hadde not dry ven them there- 
unto, and evident ruine off all there nation yff they 
hadde electidde ony othre Kjrnge. And I forseynge 
suche thyngis (as itt apperith bi diverse my Lettres 
sent to your Grace in that cause, I ordrede my self there 
aftre wyth the orators off the sayde Kynge Catholyke, 



158 oniaiXAL letters. 

in siiche nianer that he, yfF he obteignedde, schuld bi 
reason yff* sum thanks to the l^yngis Grace ther- 
fore. Master Hesd3mg haith wretyn to my Lady ver- 
raye acceptable Lettres concemyng the Triumphe 
made there for the exaltation off the Kynge Catho- 
lyke, and also off the Kyngis Grace's and your lovyng 
mjrndis towardis thys House, to the grete rejoyse off 
all thys Courte. He haith also wretyn to me a kynde 
Lettre offiynge unto me hys house and all that is ther- 
in at my pleasure, and whyche commoditie I intende 
not to use, but to take my voyage towardes Calice to- 
morrowe. My Lady, with diverse lordis here, wolde 
have me tary here bi the space off ij, dayes in conti- 
nuall fests and drynkyng, but itt is not for my purpose 
to be syke ex crapula. Itt is not yet knowen whatt the 
army beynge at this tyme in Gelderlande intendith ; 
no hedde doeth appere emongist them as yitt. Thus 
Jesu preserve your Grace in long helth and continuall 
prosperitie. Writtyn at Mechlyne thys xxvij. off July. 
By your Graces most humble 
and feythfuU servant 

E. PACE. 
To my Lord Cardinalls Grace 
and Legal in England. 

• give. 



OmOINAr LETTERS. 159 

LETTER LVII. 

Sir Thomas Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey up(m the Christ- 
• ening of the Duke qf Orleans^ afterzvards King Henry 
the Sec(md of France. June 7^ 1519.^ 

[ms. cotton, calig. d. VII. foL 12L Orig,\ 

*J* In a Letter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, dated Poissy, April 9* 1519, 
he says, he inquired of Francis the First when the Christening of his son 
should he, vho answoed ^' after Easter,'* because the child had adlMtte 
in his eyes: " and he sayeth, aU his children have, Portly after they be 
borne ; sayeng also y t was my lady his Mother's m)md, that the chyld shuld 
bee dene hole of any dysease afore the crystenyng; whos advyse he myd 
he should folow therein." & 

In a succeeding Letter, Sir Thomas Boleyn gives an Account of a SO- 
lempne prooesiion itt Couft on April 15th «' wheie w^t in the sattie the 
King, the Lady his Mother, with all the lords and ladys of the Court The 
cause of this procession was, for to honnour die holy cordon or coorde that 
Our Lord was bounde to the Pyller with, and many otheir velj^ues, which 
wer sent to the Quene here from an Abbey in Poytow, and from dyyeis 
other placed, now when she was last ddyueted of chyld.'* b 



FLlBAsltH yt youre Grace to understand that the 
first day of this nKXieth I wrote my last lettres to your 
Grdce ; and on Sonday last past about x, of the olocke 
at tiyght, the Kings yong donne wfaos title is Httsrj of 
Seynt Germayn Duke of Orleans, was crjstetkedy the 
Duke of Alaunson was the second god&ther, and the 
dachesse of Denatnours the god mother. Andhicause 
York, this berar, was there present who tam ahewe 
your Grace all the maner and orda* of the cry^enyng 
I leve to wryte to your Qr^uoe ol the same ; soFingdiat 

• MS. Cotton. Calig. f>. vii. fol. MB. >> l»id. fialL lio. 



160 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

according as your Grace hath here a fore tyme wryt- 
en to me I presented to the Quene here in the name 
of the Kings Highnesse the Salt, theCuppe, and Layar 
of gold, which was very much praysed; and also the 
Quene and my Lady gave to the Kings Highnesse for 
the same their loving and harty thanks. And after all 
was doon the King came to me and sayd he thanked 
the King's Highnesse of the great honnor that he had 
doon hym in crystenjmg of his chyld, sayeng that when 
so ever yt shall fortune the Kings Highnesse to have » 
a Prince he shalbe glad to doo for hym in lyke maner, 
and that he is mynded after his said sonne shall come 
to age and be able to . . . .he pufposjrth to send hym 
to the Kings Grace into Englande to doo hjnn service. 

And the hundreth pounde that your Grace sent to 
gyve in reward, is bistowed as folowith. First the 
Noryce, oon hundreth crownes; to iiij. rockers of the 
yong Dukes chamber, ij . hundreth crownes ; to iij. gfen- 
tlewomen of the Quenes Pryve Chamber called fiena- 
mes de Ret . . a hundreth and fy fty crownes ; and at 
the Olfiyng xx nobils, which amounteth in all to the 
some of oone hundreth pounds sterling and xv. crownes 
over. All which money was paid and del3rvered by 
the hands of York this berar and Richmount, which 
can shewe your Grace well mough therof. 

Furthermore, as this berar can shewe your Grace, 
there hath been with me at my lodging the Kings Por- 
ters, the T . . . and Officers of Armys which with 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 161 

importune manner asked reward sajdng that the Duke 
of Urbjm at the crystenjoig of the Dolphyn rewarded 
them, and wyth the best answer that I could make them 
nothyng given they went away miscontent. Never- 
thelesse it is ... by honorabull folks here that the 
gyftes to the Quene, and the money that is gyven in 
rewardes was sufficiently honorable, and largely inough 
for the Kings honnor. 

I have also laid out xjl* xij*. in sendyng dy vers tymes 
myn own folks and other that I have hired to your 
Grace in to England, and to Calais, with Lettres in post 
and otherwise, the which xjl* xij". and xv. crownes 
that I have layd out now more than hundreth poundes 
that your Grace sent me by York to gyve in reward, 
is owing me. And forasmoch as the last money that 
your Grace sent me for a hundreth ddyes ended the 
xxyiijV* day of May last past I besech your Grace both 
to send me such dyett money as shall best please your 
Grace, and that the said xjV xij^. and xv. crownes that 
is owing me may be also delivered to my prest which 
shall attend upon your Grace for yt. 

Also I receyved yester evyn from your Grace, a 
Letter dated the xxviij^^ day of May, concemyng the 
Marchaunts matiers and divers other things, whereof 
after T have spoken with the King, my Lady, or the 
Counsell here I shall wry te to your Grace such answer 
as I shall have of them with diligence. 

Here is moch speking in the Court and more at 

VOL. I. M 



162 QIIIGINAL LETTERS. 

Parys of many straunge bouts, whereof thia berar can 
shewe your Grace by mowth as he hath hard, and as 
I have shewed hym, Besechyng the Holy Trinite long 
to preserve your Grace. From Poyssy this vij?* day of 
June 

Youre 



To my moste especial and singular 
Lord ; my Lord L^at Cardinally 
Chauncellar of England. 



LETTER LVIII. 

Sir Thomas Boleyn to Cardinal Wdsey respecfmg the 

Interview with Francis the First, a. d. 1590. 

[ms. cotton, calig. d. VII. foL 104. Orig,] 

*^* This Letter, and the three which immediately follow it, relate to tfie 
preparations for the Interview between Henry the Eighth and Francis tfao 
First, which at last took place, within the English pale, between Guisnes 
and Ardres, on June ^^ 1520. The manner of meeting, and the reguUu 
tion of the ceremonial were confided by both Monaichs to Wolsey; to 
whom three of these Letters are addressed. 

Hall's acoount of this Interview in his Chronicle^ and he was perBonaDy 
present at it, was drawn up by Henry^s command. Another Journal <^the 
Occurrences was also drawn up by order of Francis. This last was pub. 
lished by Montfaucon in his Monumens de la Monarchic Fian9oi8e{- to- 
gether with a third Narrative by Robert de la Mark Mareschal de Flo- 
renges. 

Francis was so gratified witli the splendor of this Interview, that he or- 
dered the cavalcade of the Monarchs at their first meeting on horseback, to 
be carved in basso relievo on five marble tables, and to beplaced in front 
of the house of the procmreur genend at Rouen, wheie diey still remain. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 163 

Henry directed the Interview, with its attendant circumstances, to be repre- 
sented in a Picture, formerly at Windsor, but which by the munificence 
of his late Majesty now ornaments the Meeting Room of the Society of 
Antiquaries. 

Barklay the black monk, who wrote '^ The Ship of Fools," was engaged 
by Wolsey to supply the mottoes and devices on the occasion. 

The manner in which the nobility of the two countries vied With eaeh 
other in this scene of grandeur, is described in warm colours. It appears 
to have been by far the most costly ceremonial known to our History, Th^ 
English were said to have carried their manors, the French their forests, 
upon their backs : and the very phdn on which the monarchs met, from th^ 
richness of the tents and pavilions, was thenceforward called le Cham^ lM 

DBAP D'Or. 

Hall's description of the person of Francis the First, as hele^ the tent 
in whidi the monarchs had embraced^ fa worth transcribing. He was^^ tL 
goodly Prince, stately of countenance, merry of chere, brown coloured, 
great eyes, high nosed, big.lipped, fair brested and shoulders, sinall legges, 
and long feet*' a 



Pl^asith it your Grace to understond that the xix^ 
day of this Moneth I wrote my last Lettres to your 
Grace. And as yestereven the Great Master supped 
here with me at my Lodging ; and this day he is ryden 
out of this Towne onward on his joumay to Mount 
pelyer ward ; and this day or he tooke his hors, he sent 
for me to dyne with hym, and after djmner at my taking 
leve of hym, he first willed me, till he commyth ageyn, 
for sSLl matiers that I shuld haVe to doo for the Kings 
Hijghnesse that I shuld resc>rt all way to the King hym 
self, or els to my Lady, dr t6 Robertet, and to non otSi^. 
He also prayedi me that I wold humbly and hartely 
recommend hym to your Qtace, and willed me to 
wryte to you that as' touching th'Eiitrevieu and Met* 

» Hall, edit. 1809. p. 610. 

M 2 



164 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

ing betwixt the King^s Highnesse and the King here, 
though the King here commeth nat to Calais at the 
first, aecord3mg to the Kings Grace desire, wherin I 
have often spoken to hym according to mjn Instruc- 
cicms, he besechith your Grace that ye woU soo diew 
it to the Sjng^s Highnesse that it may be takjn in good 
part, and that it is for no mystrust nor diffidence thai 
the King here hath to come to Calais, but he thinketh 
it is convenyent that they both (tyll the tyme of their 
meting) kepe somwhat to theymselfs, beyond and fur- 
ther than that is agreed by there Counsells, to shewe 
more love, trust, and kindnesse ech to other, sayeng to 
me that he thinketh veryly after that both the Kings 
have mett and spoken to gyther, that the King here, 
within a day or two woU come secretly to Calais to doo 
the King'^s Grace more pleasure, or forther into Eng- 
land if the Kings Highnesse will des3rre hym. He 
willed me also to wryt to your Grace of the great love, 
favour, and confidence that the King his master hath 
in your Grace, and the great desire that he hath to doo 
you pleasiu*e ; and toold me it had not bee seen nor hard 
of oon man, being a Cardinall, to bee in soo great 
estime, trust, and reputacion of both the Kings of £ng- 
lorid and of France, as your Grace is. Wherfor he 
thinketh it is in your Grace to employe them both, 
after your wisdome, in any thing at your owne plea- 
sure. He shewed me also for his part, that, if ther wer 
any thing that he may doo your Grace pleasure or ser- 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 165 

vice in, he will as gladly doo it, aiMl with as good wiU 
and diligence as for any brother he hath : and that ye 
shuld well percey ve and know by th'experierice whan 
so ever it shuld please your Grace to prove hym. He 
toold me furthermore that in any thing that shalbe 
owther treated or concluded ther as he goyth now, your 
Gkace shalbe advertised of it, sayeng also that if their 
matiers framyd well betwixt Mons"^. de Chieuvres and 
hym, he thought he shuld goo and see the King Ca- 
tholique at Parpinyan. He hath with hym a great 
Trayn, so that he maketh his rekenyng to bee above a 
thowsand horsys : and hath with hym a garde of xxx**. 
archers in goldsyths work uppon their cootes both be- 
fore and behind. 

I send your Grace herein inclosed a Papir in French 
of his devis . . . . » the Meting and Entrevieu which 
Robertet hath delivered me by the .... *> Master's 
commaundement ; and an other papir signed with 

Mons^. de F hand conteynyng the Articles 

of th*'order for the redresse of the ma . . according to 
the forme of them your Grace wrote to me in Inglyshe : 
Whereto all the Counsell here is fully agreed as your 
^race shall presently perceyve by the same Paper in 
French. Also where yovir Grace hath deputed the 
Master of the RoUes and the Vice Admirall to examyn 
the Inglysh marchaunts robbed and spoyled in Sep- 
tember and October . . they have dejnited alonly 

• devise for. ^ Great. 



166 O&IGINAL L£TT£BS. 

Mons'. de Frayn here for thexaminadoQ of Freadi 
men robbed within the said ij. monethes. 

Also the Great Master hath advised me that inooQ- 
tinent, after his departure, I shtdd make myn abode at 
a Vyllage called Poyssy, half a league from the Court. 
And so I purpose to goo thider to-morrow ; besediing 
the holy Trinitie long to preserve your Grace. ¥tom 
Parys this xxi^^ day of March. 

Youres most bounden 

THOMAS 



LETTER LIX. 

Sir Rkhard Wingjield to Cardinal Wobey. April 
IS^'* 1620. 

[ms. cotton, calio. d. vh. fol. 210. Orig.] 



* ix. daye of this present Mpnnthe I wrote 

you my laste Lettres, syns whyche tyme I have ha4 
divers communications with the Kynge here, of the 
whiche I do advertise at this tyme the KyAg'^s High- 
nes. And thys shal be onlye to give your Grace know- 
ledge that, thoughe there hath been here syth your last 
Lettres sent to the Frensh King and Admirall mtoche 
dispayre of the Meting and Enterveue, specially fn the 
opinions of the great personnaiges of thys Courte, and 

» /. ricase it your Grace the. 



ORIGINAL LKTTEES. 167 

also of divers of the Ambassadours resident in the same, 
yet I assure your Grace by the armynge her off Cla- 
rencieulx with the Kyngs wry tyngs for the publication 
of the chalenge, which was done yest«:daye, all thys 
hole Courte is reyyvyd with plenyer joye and com- 
forte of the certentie of the sayde Enterveue declared 
in the said chalenge, the mannei' of the whyche pub- 
lication I do also wryte to the Kyngs Highnes. And, 
Sir, the manner of the delivery made by yoiur Grace 
to Marrenesse of the K3mg^s Lettres certificatory, in 
the presence of the Ambassade of Flaundres, hath not 
only recompensyd the long witbolding of them after 
the recept of Theyers, but hathe gretelye been to the 
furthir contentacion of the Kyng here, my Ladye, and 
the Admirall; so, Sir, that at this present I assure 
your Grace here is as joyewse a Courte as can be de- 
visyd ; all whiche thys daye doythe dyslodge towards 
Pafys, where theye intende to be byfore the ende of 
thys monnythe. Sir, the King here wolde gladlye 
knowe wydder the Kyng his brother cowde be con- 
tente to forbore the makynge of ryche tents and pa- 
vilions, whych thynge he cowde be wele contentyd to 
forbere on hys parte ; and loky the dayly to receive for 
hym as well his measur for the makynge of the Cu- 
rasse, as also to receive the vauntbrasse and gaunt- 
lett®. I truste your Grace wyll cause provision to be 
made for my dyett, for there be but twoo dayes to com 

• See Lord Herbert's Hist, of Hen. VIHth. foi. Lend. 1640. p. 95. 



168 OBIGINAL LETTEKS. 

of the terme for the whyche I received the laste dyette. 
I have often tymes put your Grace in remembraunoe 
heroff according to your commaundment gevyn me in 
that behallfF, besechyng your Grace to consider the 
same acoordynglye, and I shall daylye praye for the 
longe contenuaunce of your prosperous dignitie. At 
Bloyse the xviij9^ daye of Apryll. 

Your humble 



LETTER LX. 



Sir Richard Wingjield to King Henry the Eighth^ 

May ri" 1520. 

[ms. cotton, calig. d. VII. foL 216. Onjg'.] 



Pleasithe it your Highnes thys shalbe to adver- 
tise the same that thys daye my fellowe Parker is de- 
partyd fro thys citie towards Calles% with vij?* 
coursers as goodlye and puissant as is possible to se, 
whyche were shewyd yesterdaye by my sayde fellowe 
unto the Grete Escuier. And to the intent I myght 
knowe hys opinion and howe the sayde coursers 
myght lyke hym, I went to hys lodgyng in the even- 
ynge ; who I assure your Grace havyng aswell harde 
of the brute of them, as also beyng infourmyd by di- 



ORIGINAL LETTKES. 169 

vers gentilmen whyche knowe thre or fowre of them, 
sayde that ye had clerlye recoverde the moste estemyd 
pieces that where* in Italye, and singulerly praysyd 
the courser whyche the Seigneour Fabricie sent to 
your Grace. And as for the residue of them, ' he 
sayde to be in them as mpche good apparance of 
good prove ** to folio we as cowde be devysyd, and 
moche praised the conducte of them fro so farre, and 
to be in suche luste and couraige : and for conclusion 
afFter that by the space of one longe howre he had 
sayde as moche of theym as cowde be spokyn in their 
praise, he sayd to be wele assuryd that theyre fel- 
lowes, all their bownties considered, where* not to 
be fownd on the farsyde the Mountaignes. I assure 
your Highnes I was not a letyll glad to here hys good 
opinion and jugement of them, and semblablye the 
same of dy vers othir gentylmen then beyng present 
whyche knew the most partye of the sayde coursers ; 
wherofF me thowght requesyt to advertis your Grace, 
as of matter whyche I am sure shalbe nothyng te- 
dious to your Highnes to here. And thys momyng, 
at theyr settynge forth, I went to see them, but for 
that the forsayde Grete Escuyer hathe leffte nothynge 
for me to be spokyn in theyr prayse, I do leefe the 
same ; savyng that I am wele assuryd suche others as 
your Grace hathe of the sayde partyes shall whyn no- 
thyng of them, other in puissance or beaultie. And 

• were. *• proof. 



170 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

one other wele there is, that, within two dayes afflter 
theye shalbe arryved to Calles, they shalbe redye to 
serve your Highnes without lenger sejoume ; for I 
never sawe or harde horses to be so farre ledde in 
such ply te and couraige as they be in : wherein. Sir, 
after my pore opinion, the Conductor besyds all his 
other discrete demeanor in thys hys voyage, hathe 
deservyd your Highnesses favorable thancks, who 
shewyd me at hys departynge that he intendyd to be 
at your toun of Calles by the xx^ daye of this present 
monnyth. 

Also your Highnes maye understonde that apon 
Satterdaye laste the Queue and the Ladyes arrjrved 
to this Citie, and thys daye the Kynge your brother 
is arryved, and to morrowe or Wennesdaye at the 
furthyest theye shall depart towards Abbevyle, where 
I thyncke your sayde good broder intendeth to put 
order for the noumbr of suche personnaiges as shall 
attende apon hym at the Veue. And, Sir, at the 
furthyst, the Kynge your good brother intends to be 
at Muttrell or Boleigne by the xx** daye of this 
moneth. And thus I beseche the HoUygoste to have 
your Highnes in hys moste blessyd tuycion. At Parrys 
the vij* daye of Maij. 

( TJie signature humt off,) 



OSIGIMAL letters; 171 

LETTER LXI. 

Sir Richard Wingjkld to Cardinal Wdsey. May Wi 
1520. 

[M8. cotton, calig. ©. vyi. iq\, 224. OrigJ] 



PLEAsyxH it your Grace, yesterdaye I wrote unto 
the same my laste Lettres, and thys shalbe to advertise 
you that thys day the Kynge here, afFter he had dynyd, 
cawsyd all the grete personnaiges of hys Realme, 
beynge in thys toun, to be assemblyd, with the others 
of hys Councell, in hys bedde chambr, where I was 
present. Into the whyche, afFter he was arryvyd and 
had devysyd aparte with the Admirall a letyll season, 
he tumyd hym to the sayde Princes and Councell, 
shewynge them to be aswell advertesyd by me, as fit) 
hys Ambassador beynge in England, of the Kynge 
hys good broothers departynge fro hys manor of 
Grenewyche, and apon his voiage towards Dover. 
And he thowght the sayde Kynge hys good brother 
myght take passaige som daye thys next Weke, God 
wyllynge, so that he trusted shortlye afFter hys dis- 
cente that they myght mete to ghydders accordynge 
to suche treatie and promesse as was passyd bytvene 
them for that purposse. And for that he was deter- 
mynyd at the sayde metyng and durynge the tyme of 
theyr beynge to ghydder to do and make unto hys 
sayde good brother such honnorable recueil and bro* 



\1^ ORliJlNAL LETTEBS. 

thcrlyc entertcineiuent as hys sayde good brother 
nhulde wele perceive, the same to procede of entier 
love and aiFection whych he bare unto hjrm as into 
the Prince of the Worlde whom he estymyd, lovydy 
and trustyd moste. Not doubtynge but that the 
Kynge hys sayde good brother wolde make unto hym 
semblable demonstration. Off whyche hys determi- 
nation and pleasure he thowght necessary aswell to 
advertis them, as also to commaunde them, as they 
intendyd to do hym pleasure and to avoyde the con- 
trary, that they shulde every of them endevour them 
selffs to do all sucHe honour, service, and pleasure to 
hys sayde good brother as theye wolde do imto Bym. 
And that theye shulde make unto all the noblesse at- 
tendyng apon hys sayde good brother as honnorable,^ 
f rend lye, lovynge, and plesaunt recueil and entertein- 
nient as they cowde thyncke or imag3aie. And fur- 
thermore that theye shulde choose to be of theyr 
bands and companyes personnaiges of suche qualities 
as theye wolde answer for at their perills, to the intent 
that by no symple or evyll advysyd person attendyng 
apon eny of them ther myghte arryse noyse, de^ 
bate, or stryff. And further commandyd them that 
they shulde nother brynge or suffer ony other per- 
sonnaiges to come with them to the Metynge above 
suche noumbr as shall be statyd to them : whych theyr 
noumbr he as woU . . . them as commaundyd that 
they sh and discrete belongynge unto them. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 17? 

And gaff lyke command to the grete Maister for the 
appoincting of suche officers for the howse as he knewe 
to be moste honneste : and in the ende commaunded 
the Chauncellor that he shulde drawe one drafte of 
one proclamation to be made here tomorrowe Whereof 
I shall not fayle to sende your Grace a dowble of all 
that shalbe thought by hym and the others of hys 
councell necessary for the kepyng of good and pol- 
lytyke order apon hys parte at the metyng to ghydder 
of hym and hys good brother. Off all which order 
and direction by hym takyn he wyllyd me to ad- 
vertise the Kynges Highnes and your Grace, whyche 
thynge I shewyd hym that I shulde do accordynglye ; 
and also that I was wele assuryd that aswell the Kjmgs 
Highnes as your Grace shulde be moche joyewse and 
glad to knowe of the forsaide good order takyn by 
hym ; and that I doubted not but that the lyke and 
semblable was or shuldbe shortly takyn apon the 
Kyng's Highnesses partie. 

Your Grace shall also knowe that at thys Councell 
wheroff all the noble personnaiges of thys Realme 
whyche be appointed to attende apon the Kyng hero, 
reservyd the duke of Lorrayne and Mons^ de Saint 
Poll, whyche be not yet arryved, and to advertise 
your Grace by all that I can perceive or haere of them 

they and theye generally be asmoche affec- 

tionatt to this Veue as could be wysshyd or desiryd, 



174 ORIGTNAL LETTEBS. 

whyche I am wele assuryd shall w . . . . apon their 
parties at the sayde Metinge. 

Yesterday arryved to this toun les filles de Nav«n» 
Newes I have none worthye your Grace^s knawltdgt. 
Besechinge the Holy goste to have your Ghrace in hys 
moste blessyd kepyng. At Muttrell the xxv? day^ 
of Maij. 

( The Hgnature burnt of } . 



LETTER LXII. 

The Lords of the Council to King Henry the Eighth 
qfler the Interview. 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. XIII. foL 129. Orig.] 



SIB 

Please it jout Grace, over and besides the 
joyous persoimall Commyng to your Hi^messe of 
th'Emperor withm this your Reame, and of the com- 
fortable mutuell eommunicacion and entreteigtiement 
that was betwene you, whoys comm3nig int() your said 
Reame is greatly estemed Mid noted to th^inestimalde 
honor of your Highnes and youi- said Reame, we 
have had knowledge to our most singular comforCe 
and rejoysing, not oonly of your gode, prosperous, and 
fortunate late passage and arrivall at your towne of 



OEIGINAL LETTERS. 175 

Calays, but also of the most honorable personnal late 
meting of your Grace and the Frenshe Kii^, with 
the goodliest and moost commendable ordre devised 
and observed therin at that tyme, the like whereof 
heretofore hath nat heea seen. For the which, and 
for that every thing hitherto in this your royall Jour- 
ney so fortimately and prosperously succedeth oon 
thing after another, we and all other your subgietts 
have greate cause to geve laudes and praise to almighty 
God, and so we full humbly do ; firmely trusting all 
your causes and matiers shall take such effectuell and 
fortunate conclusion as shalbe to the perpetuell and 
immortall memorie of your said Grace, and to the uni- 
versal! weale, rest, and tranquillitie of all Christett- 
dome. Ascertaignyng your Highnes we were on Sa- 
turday last passed at your manoir of Richemounte with 
your dearest daughter the Princesse, who, lauded bee 
Almighty God, is right mery and in prosperous helth 
and state, dailly exercising her self in vertuous pa»« 
tymes and occupacions, whereof we sawe sum experi- 
ence afore we departed from her. Fynally as for th^- 
astate of your Reame, loved be God, it is in good peax, 
rest, and tranquillitie, and your subgietts conserved in 
good ordre and peasible rule : and we ensuyng your 
conmiandement according to our duties, dailly assem- 
ble and contynue in your Counsaill, and have had afore 
us sum causes and matiers to bee punysshed and re- 
fourmed after yo^ Lawes as well from farr places as 



176 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

from other nigh in these parties, to th^ordering wherof 
we trust we do endevor us as shalbe to the contentadcHi 
of yo' said Highnesse. At your Paloys of Westm. 
the xiij* day of June. 

Your most humble subjects 

T. NOKFOLKE. 
RLWYNTON. W. LINCOLN. J. ABBOT OF WESTM. JOHN BERNERS. 
JO. FYNEUX. THOMAS LOUELL. ROBT. BRUDENELL. JOHN CUTTE 
C. WYNDHAM. T. MAGNUS. JOHN FITZ JAMES. 



LETTER LXIII. 

Extract of a Letter from Sir William FitzwiUiafn to 

Cardinal Wolsey. a. d. 1521. 

[ms. cotton, calio. d. VIII. foL 21. Or%g»\ 

*^* The expensive Interview, of which enough has been already said, 
is usually represented as occasioning the first open breach between Wolsey 
and the Duke of Buckingham : but the following extract from a Letter 
of Sir WiUiam Fitzwilliam to Wolsey, sufficiently explains to us that 
Buckingham's haughty demeanor had long been offensive evoi to bis 
Sovereign: and that, in some degree, his weakness and his pride had 
wrought his own ruin. Of royal descent, high constable of England by 
hereditary right, possessed of' extensive domains, great in his .allianoes, 
and surrounded by numerous retainers, he enjoyed a popularity, the ftaied 
consequences of which, as will be seen in an extract from the Cardinal's 
Letter in return, induced Francis the First to offer Henry his assistance in 
case the punishment of Buckingham should cause rebeUion. ' 

Roy, at the back of the title-page of his " Rede me and be nott 
wrothe," alludes in strong terms to Wolsey as the Duke's destroyer: 

" Of the prowdc Cardinal! this is the shclde. 
Borne up betvrenc two angels of Sathan, 
The sixe bloudy axes in a bare felde 
Shewcth the cruelty of the red Man 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 177 

Which hath devoured the beautiful Swan • ; 
Mortal enmy unto the whyte Lion ; 
Carter of Vorcke, the vyle butchers sonne." 

Ofte word more respecting the fall of Buckingham. His conviction 
was principally owing to the disclosures of his confessor : and the practice 
of obtaining such disclosures from the confessors of tlie nobility, is par- 
ticularly charged on Wolsey. Roy says, 

" In all the loude there is no wyght. 
Nether Lorde. Baron, nor knyght 

To whom he hath any hatred. 
But ether by sower speche or swete 
^ Of their Confessours he will wete 

Howe they have theym selves behaved. 
What they saye> it is accepted. 
In no point to be objected. 
Though they be m false as Judas." >> 

A very rare tract of that time, by William Tyndale, intitled " The 
Practice of Prelates," intimates that Wolsey learned this of Fox and 
Morton, and that it was the engine by which Henry the Seventh main, 
tained himself upon his Throne. " In k3mge Henryes dayes the vij. the 
Cardinall Morton and bishop Fox of Winchestre delyyered unto the 
K)mges Grace the Confessions of as many Lordes as his Grace lusted. 
Wo so ever was mistrusted, if he shrove him self at the Charter houses, 
Syon, Grenewych, at Saint Jhons, or where soever it was, the Confessoure 
was conunanded by the auctorite of the Pope to delyver his confession 
wryten, and swome that it was all." 



Please it your Grace the Frenshe King tolde me 
how my Lord of Bukkyngham was in the Towre, and 
asked me and I herde of it : and I sayed naye. And 
he asked me also what maner a man he was, and I 
aunswered as I thought, and sayed he was a high 
mynded man, and a man that wold speke hke a man 
that were in a rage. And he sayed he judged* hjrm 
for .... man, and so full of coller that ther was no- 
thing could content him. Then I* shewed hym the 
Kings Grace had geven hym good lessons, and so good 

» The Duke of Buckingham took the Swan for his badge as heir of blood to 
Humphrey de Bohun. •» rev. of Sign. h. iij. 

VOL. I. N 



178 O&IGINAL LETTERS. 

that and lie had had any grace, he wold not have dis- 
served to have been ther ; and he sayed it was honor- 
ably doon of the Kings Grace to gyve hym wamyng* 
And then I shewed hym I knewe hys Grace had gyv^n 
him wamyng, as well by your Grace, as by his owne 
.... oftener than oons : and he praysed that verrey 
moche. At Mounte Armyne the xxij of Aprill. 
* By your servant to the best of my power 

WYLLIAM FYTSWILLIAM. 



LETTER LXIV. 



Extract from the CardinaVs Jnswer to Sir William 

FitzwUliam, 

[ms. cotton, calig. d. VIII. foL 38. Orig.] 



OvEE this wher as upon knowlaige had by the said 
Frenchc King of the attachement of the late Duke of 
Bukingham, the Lorde Bergevenny, and the Lorde 
Montague, he supposing that the matiers had been 
in some daungerous astate, made right loving, faithful, 
and kinde offers by you Sir William Fitzwilliam unto 
the Kings Grace for the defence of his person if nede 
had been ; ye shall for his gentle and benivolent offer 
herin geve unto hym on the Kings behalve most her- 
tye thanks. Neverthelas ye shal shewe unto hym that 
th'affaires were not, ne be in any suche daungerous 
state, but that the said late Duke, whom the Kings 



ORIGINAL LETTER*. 179 

Grace of a good season hathe knowen to be perversly 
and evil mynded was nowe lately detected of diverse 
treasons by hym self thought and imagyned, aswel 
against the Kings person as against his succession, and 
specyally against the Princes with whose aliance in 
the House of Fraunce he was greatly miscontented 
and greved. And these things being openly and mani- 
festly proved, and at last by hym self confessed, he was 
by the due order of the Kings lawes condempned and 
put to execucyon of dethe, accordinge to his demerits. 
And as touching the said Lords of Bergevenny md 
Mountague, ther is non untrouthe ner infidelitie in 
the3nm, but be as good, sincere, and loving subgietts 
and servaunts to the King as may be. And they were 
for non other cause committed to the Towre, but for 
a smale coneeylement proceding of necligence, and 
being of no regarde, weight, or importance. 

At my Place beside Westm. the xx* day of May. 
Your lovyng flrende 

T. CARDINALIS EBOB. 



LETTER LXV. 

John Longlcmd bishop of Lincoln to Cardinal Wotsey^ 
signifying the Kin^s a/pprohation of Wolsejfs in- 
tention tofofwad a College at Oxford, 

[ms. cotton, vitell. b. v. foL 8. OTigJ\ 
*^* It were impossible to supply an apter preface to this and the 
succeeding Letter, than is contained in the latter part of Shakspeare*s 
character of M^'olsey : 

N 2 



180 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

'* He WM most princely. Ever witaess for him 
Those twins of Learning tliat he rais'd in you 
Ipswich and Oxford ! "* 

The date of the fint of these Letters which relates to christ CHumcR, 
is fixed by a passage in Wood's Annals to the year 1523. Notidng the 
Visit to Oxford which Henry and Catherine made that year, }ie aiji, 
*' Not long after, Bishop Longland came and made preparation for the 
Cardinal's buildings, and caused the Canons of S^ Frideswide's to leave 
their habitations, to the end that the Cardinal's scholara and lectmen 
might take possession and be gathered together in a body, who hekn 
had settled themselves in various Halls and Colleges." i* 

Longland was not only bishop of Lmcohi, but Confessor to Klag 
Henry the Eighth. He is alluded to in the satirical productions of the 
day, as one of the persons most especially devoted to Wolsey's interests. 

The second of these Letters, though without date, cannot be placed 
earlier than 1529; the patent for the foundation of the college at 
IPSWICH being dated in that year. 

The intunate connection of then: subjects, seemed to warrant the juxta- 
position of these Letters. 



My bounden dutie moste humbly remembred unto 
3rour Grace, with thanks for your noble gudnes.ever to 
me your bedesman and servaunte shew . . . all at my 
nowe beinge with your Grace to your greate chardge 
and ... to my moste singlr comforte. And for your 
precioux gifiRte ye gave me I moste humble thanke you, 
whiche duringe my liff I shall keep for a treasour in 
reamembrans of your noblenes. Hit may please Your 
Grace to undrestand I have delivered your token to 
the Kings Highnes withyour humble commendacions 
unto hym, with your lyke thankes for his highe and 
favorable gudnes shewid in furtherans and setting forth 
of your moste godly piupoose concemynge your Col- 
ledge, whiche ye tooke to be of the moste highiste rea- 

• Hen. VIII. Act iv. sc. 2. 

)> Wood's Annals of the Univ. of Oxford, vol. ii. p. 24. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 181 

compens that he kowd doo unto you, for the service 
your Grace hathe doon unto hym^ Shewinge hym 
howe plesant hit was unto you to hier that his Highnes 
dydd soo reajoyce at the said fundacion and Colledge 
for whiche ye have maad hym and the Queen partici- 
pants of suche suffrages as shuld ther be doon, d©- 
liveringe unto hym in a booke of the same wher in he 
mervelously rejoicithe with many words and thanks to 
you for the same And over this I shewed him of the 
greate gud that should ensue of this your noble foun- 
dation, aswell in bringinge upp of youthe in vertue as 
exc . . ninge to the maigtenans of Christs Chirche and 
hh faith, to the Eing^s honor and of all his realme ; 
and that many shuld there be brouht upp, whiche 
shuld be able to doo his Grace honorable service. I 
assure your Grace the Kinge dothe considre all tliis 
moore in the beste manor, and soo dothe reaporte hitt 
unto your Grace's honor bettor than I kan with pen ex- 
presse. Sainge that more gud shall come of this your 
honorable fundacion than any man can exteme, with 
many moo gud words, muche rejoicinge in the same 
as I doubte nott but he will expresse att lengthe unto 
your grace att your commjmg, whiche I shewed hjrm 
shuld be a uiunday nexte. I assertaignyd him over this 
your pleasour concemjmge the secrete serch ye wuld 
this terme make in diverse places namynge the same 
unto hym, and that att oon tyme. And that ye wuld 
be att the Crose* havinge the clergy with you, and ther 

• St Paul's Cross. 



182 ORIGINAL LETTKBS. 

to have a notable clerk to prech afor you a aermond 
cxmtra Lutherum, Lutherianos, fautoresque eorun^ 
contra opera eorum et libros, et contra inducentes «•«• 
dem opera in regnum : and then to have a proclanuip' 
cion to geve notise that every person havinge any 
warks of Luther or of his fautors makinge, by a li- 
mitte day, to bring them in sub pena exoommunicati- 
onis majoris, and that day Ijnmyte, to fulminate the 
sentens a yenst the contrary doers ; and that if alitor 
that day any suche warks be known or found with any 
person, the same to be convicte by abjuradon : and iff 
thei will contumaciter persiste in ther contumacy, then 
to pursue them by the lawe ad ignem, as a yenste an 
heretick. And that ye purposse over this to bind the 
said merchands and stachioners in reacognisans nev&r 
to bringe in to this Realme any such boks, scrowlis, 
or writings : whiche your godly purposse his Higfanes 
mervelusly well allowithe, and doth muche hold with 
that reacognisans, for that some and most parte wiU 
more feare that than excommunicacion. And his 
Grace thinks my Lord of Rochestor to be moste meete 
to make that aermond afore you, bothe propter auctf>- 
ritatem, gravitatem, et doctrinam personam. His Higb^ 
ness is as gud and gracious in this quarrell of God as 
can be thouzht, wishid, or desired, and for the fur- 
therans of this godly purpose as fervent in this cause 
of Christe his chirche, and maigtenauns of the same 
as ever noble prince was. I declarid unto him whate 
highe power and name he liathe obteignyd by his no- 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 183 

table wark maad agaynste Luther, and in whate esti- 
macioti he is in thoroo out Christindom, the .... 
and that now in this suppression of Luther, is ad- 
herents and disciples shuld gett muche more lawd, 
prais, and honor, and immortle name besyds thonor 
and welthe of his realme and hyghe merytt of his so 
.... he is moste gracioux toward and ready in theeF 
cans of God . . . your Grace shall well perceyve when 
ye shall speke with hym. Hit may please yolir Grace 
of your mercifuU gudnes emongs all these greate oSiers^ 
to remembre this matter to his Highnes to animate 
him in this cause of Christe, of Christe and his chirche^* 
for the depression of the enymys of God. The World 
is mervelusly bent a yenst . . . and it is the Kingi^ 
Grace and you that muste remedy the same. God 
hathe sent your Grace emongs us t^'advauns his honor 
and maintain his chirche and fadthe, for whome we all 
ar moste bounde to pray, and for your moste noble 
prosperous estate longe to endure. The Kinge and 
all the Courte reaportyth the noble House your Grac^ 
hathe kepte this phristmas^ and of the notable cher^ 
ye have given to nobles and servariinds, mtiche to your 
laude and honor. 

This day, after diner was doon^ I went with the lords 
in to the Quenes chambre, where the Kinge came with 
the Queue towards wher I stood, and said to the Queue 
thes words, " Madame My Lorde of Lincoln kan shewe 
of my lord Cardinalls Colledge att Oxford, and what 



18i« OKIGIXAL LETTERS. 

lernynge thcr is and shalbe, and what lernyd men in 
the same,^ and so the Kinge departid ; and I shewid 
to the Quene is grace th'effecte of all, and whate greate 
gud shuld come of the same, aswell to conservation of 
Christ^s Chirche and Faith, as to the Reahne ; wher 
all gud lomynge and letters shuld be ; wherby reasorte 
shuld be out of all parts of Christendom to the same 
for lomynge and vertue ; and shewid her of the nota^ 
ble lectors that shuld be ther, and of the exercitaticxns 
of lomynge, and how the Students shuld be Ijrmytt by 
the readars to the same ; lyke wisse in th'^exposicion of 
the Byble ; and expressid to her Grace the numbre of 
your Hows, the devyn service of your Colledge, and 
of the greate suffrages of Prayor ye have maad her 
participant of. And she said, " I thanke my gud lord 
for his reamembrauns, that it please hym to make me 
partivor of that gud prayors.*" And her Grace was 
mervelous glad and joious to hier of this your notable 
fmidacion and Colledge, spekinge grett honor of the 
^me. Thus I encombre your Grace withe lenght of 
writinge : besechinge the Holy Goste to preserve you, 
and to geve you longe prosperous liflF and helthe. 
Written at Eltham, in vigilia Epiphaniae, by th'and of 
Your moste humble bedisman soo bounden 

JOHN LINCOLN, 



OHIOINAL LETTERS. 185 

LETTER LXVI. 

William Capon, dean of Cardinal College Ipsxvichy to 
Card, Wolsey^ upon thejbundation and ordering of 
the College. 

[ms. cotton. TITUS B. I. fol. 276. OrigJ] 



Pleasith it your Grace Xjo be advertysed, the Son- 
day the vj'.® day of September, maister Stepbyns*, Doc- 
tor lyee, with M"^ Crumwell, repayred to Gipswiche 
and came to your Graces College there, and brought 
with theym coopes, vestements, aulter clothes, piate, 
and other things, the perticuUers wherof byn com- 
prised in a payer of Indenturs made bitwene me and 
the said M'. Crumwell; the oon indenture the said 
M'. Crumwell hath with hym and thoder part re- 
meyneth with me. Also all the said parcells be in- 
groced and incerted into your Graces boke indented, 
emongest other of your graces stuff, which boke re- 
meyneth in my custodye. Also the said M'. Stephyns, 
M^ Lee, and M^. Crumwell taryed in your graces 
College the space of iiij dayes, in whiche tyme M"^ 
Crumwell dyd take moche payne and labour not only 
in surveying yo' graces stuff hether caryed sawfely, 
but also in prepayring and ordering off hangings, 
benchis, with all other necessaries to the furniture of 
our hall whiche ys now well trymmed and ordered 

• Stephen Gardener, afterwards bishop of Winchester, who is frequently called by 
this familiar name in the Letters of Henry the Eighth's time. 



186 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

thrugh his good diligence and helpe. And upon our 
Ladyes evyn I, with all the company of your Grace^s 
college, as the subdeane, M*" Ellis, vj. prests, viij. 
clerks, and ix. choresters with all our servants, when 
we had fjmished our evynsong in our college chirche, 
then immedyatly after we repa)rred to gether to our 
Ladyes Chapell and there song evynsong as solemp- 
ly and devoutely as we cowde. And there accom- 
panyed with M*" Stephyns, Doctor Lee, and M' Crum- 
well, with M'. Hunifrey Wyngfylde, (to whom all we of 
your Grace'^s college byn moche boundyn unto for his 
loving and kynde maner shewed unto us,) the hajliSa 
of the towne, with the port-men and the Priour of 
Christs Chirche, all the whiche accompanyed us that 
same nyght home agayne to your Graces college with 
as lovyng and kynde maner as I have sene; and at 
tlieyr commyng theder they dranke with me bothe 
wyne and biere, and so that nyght departed. On the 
next Day whiche was our Ladyes day, the viij. day of 
September; a day of very fowle wedder and rajmed sore 
contynewally; so that we cowde not go in procession 
thrugh the towne to our Lady''s Chapell accordyng to 
our statute by your grace made; but we made as so- 
lempne a procession in your grace's College Chirche as 
cowde be devysed. In somoche there were xl. of your 
coopes wome there, and asmoche people as cowde 
stande in the Chirche and in the chirche yarde. Also 
all the honnorable gentilmen of the shyre were there ; 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 187 

as M'. Wenteford, Sir John Willowghbye, Sir Phelip 
Tylney, M": Bowth, Sir Thomas Tey, with M^ Bene- 
fylde, M*: Pyrton, M^: Jermeyn, M": Humfrey Wyng- 
fylde, with many other to the ncHnber of xxiiij. gen- 
tilmen of the contrey, besids the baylifFs, porte-men 
of the towne, the Priour of Christs Chirche, the Pri- 
our of Butley, Doctor Grene vicar of Alborowgh, as 
commyssaries bothe to your Grace and to the Bishop 
of Norwiche, and the Duke of Norfolk's almcHier 
M^. Hege, all the whiche were there, with as good 
wille and diligence as they cowde to do your Grace 
honnor that day : and they all toke repast at djmner 
in your Grace's College, and as I trust wele enterteyned 
with good fare, and suche fassyon as we cowde devise, 
where with they were right well contented as I sup- 
posed. Fardermore as for your syngyng men byn 
well chosen, very well brested with sufficient cunnyng 
for theyr rowmes, and som of theym very excellent, 
whiche will not serve here with theyr good wills for 
that wagis, alleging for theyr selff how they had moche 
better wages there from whense they came fro. More- 
over they will have brekefasts every day in as ample 
and large maner as they have had in other places. I 
feare that theyr commons allowed by your Grace will 
not suffice theym as yet : for we can make no provy- 
sions neyther for beeffs ne for muttons for want of 
pasture nere unto us. As for Bomebrige ys very 
bareyne. The subdeane and I, with M' Rushe, have 



188 ORICilXAL LETTERS. 

vcwccl every part and percell therof, and they saye 
it is not mete nor convenyent for fatte ware, neyther 
for beeffs nor muttons. I have enterteyned theym 
according to your Graces commandment with good 
wordis and plenty of mete and drinke, promisyng to 
som of theym that be excellent more wagis, for they 
gruge sore at theyr wagis, as M'. Doctor Stephyns 
and M'^ Crumwell can shew to your Grace more at 
lengthe. Fardermore as for yo"^ Graces College 
Churche, oon man ys not able bothe to attende and 
kepe the revestry and do all things in the Churche, 
as to ryng the bells, kepe the Churche clene, pre- 
payre the aulter'^s lights, and other necessaries, and 
to see all the Ornaments wele and sufficiently re- 
payred, and kepte withoute eny enpayring, and to set 
forth every day all suche things as is to be occupied 
abowte Godd's service. Therfore by the advyce of 
M' Stephyns, M*^ Lee, and M*: Crumwell I have putt 
in to the churche an other man to helpe the yoman oflF 
the Revestry, and named him Sexten, unto the tyme 
I knowe farder of your Grace'^s pleasure in that be- 
half Also here byn but fy ve prestis besids your Sub^ 
deane, whiche is to litle a nomber to kepe iij. massy s 
every day according to your Graces statuts, and the 
subdeane cannot attende upon his charge for survey- 
eng of the works and bieldyngs of your Grace's Col- 
lege, wherfor we moost humbly desyer and pray your 
Grace to have moo priests to pcrforme your Grace's 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 189 

ordynaunce in your sayd 'College, or els to dyspense 
w* us for oon of your masses, eyther the Requiem 
Masse or ells our Ladyes masse, unto the tyme we be , 
better furnished with priests to accompUshe and per- 
forme your Graces ordynaunces and statutes therin. 
And but for M' Lentall we cowde in a maner do no- 
thing in oure quere. He taketh very great paynes 
and is alwaye present at Mattens and all Masses w' 
evyn song, and settith the quere in good ordre fro 
tyme to tyme, and fayleth not at eny time. He is very 
sober and discrete, and bringeth up your Choresters 
very wele: assuring your Grace there shall be no bet- 
ter' childem in no place of England then we shall 
have here, and that in short tyme. I have also made 
XV. albis of the new cloth whiche I hadof your Grace, 
delyvered by thandis of M*^ Alvarde your graces ser- 
vaunt: and yet there is xiiij. albis more to be made 
to the sutes now lately sent by your Grace to us by 
M": Crumwell; besids albis for xiiij. tunycles, and xij. 
payer of odde parrers for childem. Fardermore there 
hath byn sent unto your Graces College, agaynste the 
day of the Nativitie of our Ladye, ix. bukks : that is to 
wete ij. from the Duke of Norfolke, ij. from the Duke 
of Suffolke, oon from my Lady of Oxford theyonger, 
oon from Sir PheUp Bowth, oon from M"^ Pyrton, 
oon from M' Sentcler your graces servaunt, and oon 
from Richard CavendisH your grace's servaunt; 
whiche bukks were spent on our sayd Ladyes day in 
your Graces College and in the towne of Gipswiche, 



190 ORIGINAL LETT&ES. 

whercMjf oon buk was dely v'*ed to the Chamberleyns of 
the towne for the xxiiij. hedmen of the same towne, and 
in money x*. to make mery w' all, by the advyce of 
M'. Stcphins, M'. Lee, and M^ Crumwell : and in lyke 
wise to the bayliffs wy ves and the portemennes wives 
to make mery with a buk and x^ And to the Curatts 
of the same towne a buk w* vj». viij4 in money, for 
theyr paynes and labowrs takyn in our prooessioD. 
Also M '^. Rushe to whom all your Graces College is 

V 

moche beholdyn unto, ever redy to do pleasurs and 
also to take paynes for us in all our causes, and at the 
sayd day he gave to us vj. cowple of conyes, ij. fe- 
saunts, and oon dosse3m of quayles. Also the Priour 
of Butley he gave to us ii. fesaunts and a fatte Crime. 
Also we have receyved of M"^ Dawndy clxxj. tonnes 
of Cane stone, and within a fortenyght next after Mi- 
ghelmes now next commyng we shall have oon c. 
tonnes more. So that your workemen shall not be 
un occupyed for wante of stone. And the sayd 
M*: Dawndy hath promised to me that bifore Easter 
next commyng we shall have here redy M^ tonnes 
more of the sayd Cane stone. And thus the Holy 
Trinitie preserve your Grace. From your Grace's 
College in Gipswiche the xxvj. day of September, by 
yo' moost boundyn servaunt and humble Chapleyn. . 

WILLYAM CAPON. 

To my Lord Legate 
his good Grace. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 191 

LETTER LXVir. 

R, Gruffithe to Cardinal Wdsey, 
[ms. cotton. TITUS B. XI. foL 416. Or%g,\ 

*t* The vidnity of Pembrokeshire to Ireland makes it reasonable to 
suppose that a few settlers might come to Wales from the sister Country, 
almost in all times ; or that a few industrious persons might go from Wales 
to make their settlement in Ireland; Milford in the County of Pembroke, 
in the middle period of our History, being the port of most general com- 
munication between the two Countries. 

The following Letter to Cardin4 Wolsey, however^ from Richard Gruf- 
fithe, a person who appears to have been in some degree of power in the 
Palatinate of Pembroke, points at a time when a sudden colonization of 
Pembrokeshire took place which gave somewhat of alarm even to theBn- 
glish government. From the mention of the Earl of Desmond in it, as in 
open rebellion, it may be taken for granted that the date must have been 
in 1523 or 1524, when by repeated influx, no fewer than twenty thousaivd 
persons are stated in the course of a year to have taken up their abode in 
that part of Pembrokeshire opposite to Ireland, principally from the Earl 
of Desmond's territory. Our Historians are entirely silent on this curious 
fact, but, as wHl be shewn in the sequel, some such colonization in that 
County, to an extent fully equal to, if not greater than that recorded in the 
Letter, is recognized as late as the time of James the First. 



Pleasith it youre moost noble Grace, my duetie 
of mooste humble recommendacions hadde unto your 
Grace, as apperteynyth, sygnyfyinge unto the same 
your moost noble Grace, that there is so gret abound- 
ance of Irisshemen latelye comyn within these xij. 
monethes into Pembrokeshire, the Lordship of Haver- 
forde West, and so alongest the See syde to Saynt 
Davyes, and within the townes of Haverforde West, 
Pembroke, and Tenbye, with suche that be comyn 



192 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

thetler before and inhabited there, that by estymacion 
do amounte at the leste to the nombre of twentye thou- 
sande persons and above, of all maner sorte, and the 
mooste part of the same Raskells be out of the domy- 
nyons of the Kings Rebellyon therle of Desmonde; 
and verey fewe of theym out of the Englisshe pale of 
Irelande. And the Kings Towne of Tenbye is almost 
cleane Irisshe, as well the hedde men and ruelers as 
the comyns of the said Towne ; and of their highe and 
presumptuoux myndes doo dissobey all maner the 
Kings processe that comythe to thejnm out of the 
Kings Eschequyer of Pembroke ; supposing that their 
Charter woll bere theym therin, where of truethe thair 
Charter is no thyng like so large of liberties as they 
do clayme it to be. And one of theym, caulled Grer- 
mjoi Gruffith, borne under the domynyon of the said 
Erie, is nowe owner of two great Shipps well appoynt- 
ed with ordenaunces; and it is daily e proved by expe- 
ryence that fewe or none of Englysshemen or Welshe- 
men can or be recey vyd amongs theym to anye service 
or wages. And the last yere I herde of a grete nowm- 
bre of the same Irisshemen that were cast over lande 
upon the cost within the said Shere, whereupon I 
made a preveye watche, and in two little parisshes in 
one nyght I gadered of theym above two hunderde that 
were newe comjn, besids as monye that were comyn 
there before; and all the same new Company I did 
sonde to See agayne. Albeit, sythyn, they be comyn 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 193 

agen with monye moo : and every, on that comythe 
dothe clayme kjmred to one or other of the same 
shire, townes, and countre foresaid. And ever sythyn 
that I expulsed the said new comyn Irisshemen out 
of the countre as before, the rest do grudge agaynst 
me. And of truethe in all the said circuete there be 
foure Irysshe agaynste one Englisshe or Welshe : and 
therfore, after my power mynde, it were expedyent 
and necessarye that the Kings Highenes with his moost 
honorable Counsaill shulde ponder the same, and de- 
vise some order to be takyn, aswel for th'advoiding of 
the moost parte of theym, as alsoe that noo man within 
that parties shall reteigne any that shall come out of 
Irlande thider, at any tyme herafter into thair service, 
upon a certayne penaltye; and ells they, shall never 
be woren out, but increas more and more. And furder 
sygnyfying unto your moost noble Grace that the 
Mayor and Towne of Tenby have commytted and don 
mony great ryotts, rowtes, and unlefuU assembles 
aga3nist the Kings lawes, his peax, crowne, and dig- 
nyte, with diverse extorcions, as shall appere by divers 
indictaments remayn)mge agaynst theym in the Kings 
Records of Pembroke. And also it shalbe duely 
proved that they have ayded and vittailed the Kyng's 
enymyes at sundrye tymes, and that as shalle pleas 
the Kyngs Highenes and your most noble Grace to 
commaunde me to do, concemyng any order that shal- 
be takjm concemjnng the premyssis, shalbe accom- 
VOL. I. o 



194 OEI6INAL LETTERS. 

plisshed with all diligence to the uttremost of my litle 
power ; as knoweth God who ever preserve your tnoost 
noble Grace in felicitie. From Carmerden the viij^ 
daye of this July, &c. 

Your humble Servaunt 

B. GBUFFtTHE. 

To my Lorde Legatis moost 
noble Grace. 



The recognition spoken of in the introduction to this Letter, occurs ill 
a manuscript in the Harleian Collection in the British Museum, N®. 6250. 
kitided " ThefirstBooke of the Description of Pembfokeshhre in general,*' 
written in '^ 1603 ;'* but without the name of the author. The fourth chap- 
ter, foL 20, has the following title, " That the Countrey is nowe inhabyted 
by three severaU nations : as Welshmen the remnant of the Ancient Brit- 
taines and first Inhabitants of the Countrey ; Englishmen brought thetherat 
the Conquest thereof; and by Irishmen which doe dailye ferrye over thither 
out of Ireland : and of the language spoken by these three scTerall naeions." 
In fol. 21 the author says, '^ As for Irishemen they are so powdred among 
the Inhabitaunts of Rowse and Castlemartyn, that in everye village you 
riiall find the thirde, fourth, or fifth householder an Irishman : and nowe 
of late they swarme more then in tymes past, by reason of these late wanes 
in Ireland ; and if it so contynue for the tjone to come, in shorte tyme they 
are like to match the other inhabitants in nomber. These tOt &fe moBt 
parte speake and use here the Englishe tongue, yett in such sorte as that 
all men maye disceme these to be that countrey pec^le, as aldoe by ^e 
rudenes of theire manefl^ for the servante will nsuaUye thow his maitrtar, 
and thinketh it noe offence. As manye as come out of the countrey of 
Weisford, saye they under stande noe Irlshe, neyther doth enye well an- 
derstande their Englishe. They are so increased that dlere are wnne whtde 
parishes inhabited by the Irishe, haveinge not one Englishe or Welshe, 
but the parson of the parishe ; and these Irishe people here doe use their 
Countrey trade in makeing of Aquavitie in great abundance, which they 
carrye to be sould abroade the countrey on horsbacks and otherwise, soe 
that weekly you may be sure to have Aquavitie to be sold at yoctf dote: 
and by meanes thereof it is growne to be usuaU drinke in moftt mcna houses 
instede of wjrne, some of them makinge exceedinge goode, and soulde 
better cheap then in any parte of England or Irdand, for I have dntilke as 



OEIGINAL LETTERS. 195 

gOod as some Rosa Solis made by them, and this solde usuallye for xyj^^. a 
quarte ; but comonly you shall have retye good for xd or xijd the quarte, 
which is better cheape then ever I could buye the like in anye parte of 
England." 

The known continuance of the Irish in P^nbrokeshire for more than 
sixty years, down to 1603, would lead one to expect that some remains of 
this colonization might still be traced in Pembroke, Tenby, or Haverford 
West, if it were only in family names ; but upon the most accurate in- 
quiries it appears that not only every trace, but even the tradition of it is 
worn out. 



LETTER LXVIII. 

Sir Tfiomas More to Cardinal WoUey, 

[mS. cotton. TITUS B. XI. foL 391. Or%g,\ 

*^* The Reader is now presented with a short series of Letters to Car- 
dinal Wolsey from the pen of Sir Thomas More. It is singular that 
not one of these has the date of the year attached ; but they appear mostly, 
from internal evidence, to have been written either before, or about 1523. 

From these, as well as from other Lettera in the present Volume, it will 
be perceived that in one point many of our Historians have made a false 
estimate of the character of Henry the Eighth. They have represented 
him, ia the earlier portion of his reign, as little better than a voluptuary 
absorbed in the pleasures and the splendor of his Court, while the Cardinal 
really held the reins of government. 

But it will be foimd that Wolsey only occupied the first place in the 
royal favor. Henry saw his talent for business, and constantly flattered 
him with thanks : but in every thing governed for himself. Wolsey neither 
framed a bill for Parliament nor a despatch for a foreign Court, which was 
not submitted to Henry ; and never acted even in domestic politics tUl he 
had taken the pleasure of his Sovereign. In a Letter of Sir Thomas 
More, which is not in the number of those transcribed in the present 
volume, dated aT Abingdon, apparently in 1523, repenting the Icing's 
opinion and directions respecting the War in tlie liow Countries, he says, 
^' Afrer that his Orace "had red and reformed the mynut ofthispresen 
Lettre^ he commanded me to wryte unto your Grace on his behalfe tiiat 
it myght lyke you to take ^e pa3me to devise a good round Lettre un to 
my Lady Margaret in your own name "a. 

• MS. Cottdn. Galba B. viii. fol. 74. 

o2 



196 ORIGINAL LETTERS^ 

At the end of another Letter which has not been transcribed, tlie greatei 
part of which is taken up with different orders from the King, Sir Thomas 
has inserted one paragraph which relates to liimself, and which is worth 
preserving. " Ferthermore hit may lyke your good Grace to understand 
that at the contemplation of your Grace's Lettres, the King's Highne^ is 
graciously content that byside the hundred poundes for my fe for th'office of 
the Speaker of his Parleament, to be taken at the receipte of his Eschequer, 
I shall have one other hundred poundes owt of his cofres by th'ands of the 
tresorer of his Chambre ; wherfore in moost humble wise I besech your 
good Grace that as your gradouse favor hath obteigned hit for me, so it 
may lyke the same to wryte to M^, Wiatt that he may deliver hit to such 
as 1 shall send for hit : wherby I and all myn, as the manyfold goodnes 
of your Grace hath all redy bound us, shalbe dayly more and more bounden 
to pray for your Grace, whom our Lord longe preserve in honor and helth* 
At Esthamstede the xxvjil* day of August" a. 

Sir Thomas More, it will be remembered, though possessed of the 
highest offices, even at the close of his career, had amassed no wealth for 
his family. 



Hit may lyke your good Grace to imdrestand that 
yistemyght the Kings Grace commanded me to deli- 
ver un to your servant Foreste a Supplication put un to 
his Grace by meime of Waterford in the name of the 
Citee, by which they complain agaynste the Towne of 
New Rosse in Ireland for disturbyng the citie of Wa- 
terford in the use of a certayn graunt of prise Wynys 
made and confermed un to theym as they allegge by 
the Kyngs progenitors: Wherein the Kings Grace 
commaunded me to advertise your Grace that he call- 
eth to mynd that the Citee of Waterfof d in all such 
rebellions as hath happed in Irleland hath allways by- 
den fermely in theire allegiauns, and often tymys done 
very good and faithefuU service to the Kinge his father 



» MS. Cotton. Tilus B. i. fol. S23. 



OEIGlNAL LETTERS. 197 

and other his progenitors; for which he saith he bereth 
theym as your Grace well knoweth very speciall favor. 
His Grace saith also that he knoweth well and your 
Grace also that there is mych beryng agaynste theym 
in Ireland, and that ther the citie standeth so in the 
daynger of the wild Irishe peple that they can not 
without great ieopardie resort for the pursuit of theyre 
right in to such placis of Ireland as the Lawes be mi- 
nistred in. Wherfore his Grace commaunded me to 
write un to your Grace, that he requyreth your Grace 
that it may lyke you either in the Starre Chambre to 
examine the mater of the said citee, or ellis to com- 
mitte the same to the examination of sum justices or 
other, such as your Grace shall thynk convenient, so 
that they may have expedition with such lawfuU favor 
as it may be a cumfort to theym to se that their trew 
service is by the Kinge and his Coimsaile in England 
considered; wherby the Kings Grace thinketh that 
other Cities and Lordis also, in Ireland, shalbe enco- 
raged un to the lyke. 

Sir, if it lyke your Grace, at my retome whan I spake 
with the King, his Grace was very ioyfuU that notwith- 
standing your so continual! labors in his maters (in 
which he saied ye have many moo than appere to 
theym that see you but at Westminster or with the 
Counsaile) your Grace is so well in helth as he hereth 
by diverse; and he saith that ye may thank his coun- 
fiaile thereof by which ye leve the often takyng of me- 



198 ORIGINAL LETTSftS. 

dicines that ye were wont to use; and while ye so do 
he saith ye shall not faile of helth, which our Lord long 
preserve. At Okjng the v*^ day of July. 

Your moste humble servaunt and mooste 
bounden beedman 

THOMAS MORE. 
To my Lord LegaU grace. 



LETTER LXIX. 

Sir Tfwmas More to Cardinal fVolsey. 
[m8. cottok. oalbab. v. foL 270. OrigJ] 



Hit may lyke your good Grace to undrestand that 
the Kings Grace hath commaunded me to advertise 
your Grace that the Embassiator of the King of Cas- 
tile hath this present Wedynesday spoken with his 
Grace and declared un to hjrm such newis on the by- 
halfe of his maister the King of Castile as your Grace 
knowetli of, for which the Kings Grace requjrreth your 
Grace that there may be such Lettres of gratulatkm 
devised un to the said King of Castell as your poli- 
t^ique wisedome shall thinke moost conveniait. 

The Kings Grace hath also commaunded me to 
shew your Grace that th'embassiator hath requyred his 
Grace to send his advice to the King of Castile con- 



ORIGINAL LETTKftS. 199 

cernyng the mater of the laste Diete, in which the 
greate Maister of Fraunce deceaced, in which thing 
th'embaBsiator desireth to have L^ttres of Credence of 
the Kings Grace by which he myght hym selfe declare 
to his maister by mowth the Kings advice concemyng 
the premissis, how be it the Kings Grace thinketh hit 
mych better that his hole advice be written at length 
by Lettres devised by the prudent caste of your Grace. 
The Kings Grace commaunded me ferther to wrighte 
un to your Grace that among other communications 
had with thembassiator, his Grace remembred un to 
hym that he had all way been a very hartie frend un to 
the King of Castil and during his life so entended to 
percever, and wold of none erthely thing be more loth 
than if eny occasion shold fall (which he trusted shold 
never fall) wherby he myghte be constrayned un to the 
contrary ; for the avoiding wherof his Grace advised 
th'embassiator that he shold in eny wise counsaile hig 
Maister that he no thing attempte herafter that shold 
extend to the breche of eny article comprised in the 
amitee concluded bytwen his Grace and the King of 
Castil and the French King, which if he did, hys Grace 
shold think hym selfe bounden to regard the frejadship 
of none erthely man so highly as his othe geven to God 
for the observation of the said Amite and Liege. The 
Embassiator is riden fro the court now after diner, and 
I think he wilbe with your Grace very shortely. And 



200 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

thus our Lord long preserve your Grace in honor and 
helth. At Okyng the vj'^ day of July. 

Your mooste humble servaunt and 
mooste bounden beedman 

THOMAS MORE. . 



LETTER LXX. 

tSir Tliomas Mare to Cardinal Wclsey. 

[MS. COTTON. GALBA B. V. foL 269. Or%g,\ 



Hit may lyke your good Grace to undrestand that 
the Kingis Grace hath commaunded me to wryte un 
to your Grace that he geveth You harty thankis for 
your diligent advertisement of all such things as your 
Grace hath written un to hym in your latter Lettres, 
towching the contents wherof his Grace hath com- 
maunded me to shew you that he very well lyketh 
your politique ordre taken with hedyng the King of 
Castile his orator, which his Grace thinketh very good 
and honorable. And as towching the overture made 
by my Lord of Shevers for the mariage of my Lord 
of Devonshire, the King is well content, and as me 
semeth, very glad of the motion, wherein he requireth 
your Grace that it may lyke you to call my Lord of 



ORIGINAL LETTEttS. 201 

Devonshire to your Grace, and to advise hym se- 
cretely to forbere eny ferther treatie of mariage witl^ 
my Lord Mountjoy,*for a while; staying the matter, 
not casting hit off: shewing hym that ther is a farre 
bettre offre made hym, of which the King wold that 
he shold not know the specialtie byfor he speke with 
his Grace. 

As towching the demeanure of the Cardinall Sedu- 
nense concemyng the truste that the Kings Grace did 
put in hym his Grace commaunded me to shew your 
Grace that he mystrusted the same hymselfe bjrfore: 
and that he so shewed your Grace at Richemount. 
And though he be not glad of the Cardinallis delyng, 
yit is he glad he saith that your Grace may se that 
he fore saw it, wherby he thinketh your Grace will 
the bettre truste his conjecture hereafter. 

I send un to your Grace by your servaunt, this 
berer, certayn Wryting which the Kings Grace com- 
maunded me to send un to your Grace, to take such 
ordre in the same as your moost politique wisedom 
shall thynke convenient. And thus our Lord long 
preserve your good Grace in honor and helth. At 
Oking this present Saterday the ix^^ day of July. 
Your moost humble servaunt and 
moste bownden beedman 

THOMAS M0B£. 



«)2 



ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. 

LETTER LXXI. 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey. 

[MS. COTTON. VESP, F, XIII. foL 136 b. Orig.] 



Hit may like your good Grace to be advertised 
that according to your Grace^s commaundemait geyen 
me by your Lettres dated the xxx^ day of Augusta 
I have shewed un to the Kings Grace the byll devised 
for Sir Richard Wyngfeld subscribed by your Grace, 
and the old Bill also advertisyng his Grace of such 
things as your Grace in the new Bill caused to be left 
owte for th'advantage of his Highnes which points I 
shewed his Grace cancelled in the old Bill and omit* 
ted in the new, for which his Highnes with hartie 
thanks to your Grace for your labor taken therin 
hath signed the new, which I have delivered to hym 
of whom I receaved hit. And thus our Lord long 
preserve your good Grace in honor and helth. At 
Okyng the fjrrst day of Septembre. 

Yo^ humble Orator and moost 
bounden bedeman 

THOMAS MORE. 



OAI6INAL LETTERS. 203 

LETTER LXXII. 

Sir Thomas More to Cardmal Wolsey, 

[ms. cotton, calig. b. I. foL 302. Ong-.] 



Hit may lyke your good Grace to be advertised 
that I have received your Graces Lettres directed to 
my selfe dated the last day of Auguste, with the Lettres 
of my Lord Admirall to your Grace, sent in Post, and 
copies of Lettres sent by twene the Quene of Scotts and 
his Lordshipp concemyng the maters and afieires of 
Scotland, with the prudent Answeris of your Grace as 
well to my said Lord in your awne name, as in the 
name of the Kings Highnes to the said Quene of 
Scotts. All which Lettres and copies I have dis- 
tinctely redde unto his Grace, who hath in the reding 
therof substancially considered as well the Quene his 
sisters Lettre with the Lettres aga3mward devised and 
sent by my lord Admirall to h^, and his Lettres of 
advertisement to your Grace, as your moost poUtique 
devises and answeres un to all the same ; among which 
the lettre which your Gra<je devised in the name of his 
Highnes to the Quene his sister, his Grace so well 
lyked that I never saw hym lyke thing bettre ; and as 
helpe me God in my pcwre fantasie, not causeles, for 
hit is for the quantite one of the best made Lettres 



^4 ORIGINAL LETTEES. 

for wordis, mater, sentence, and cowching that ever I 
redde in my life. 

His Highnes, in your Graces Lettre directed to my 
lord Admirall, marked and well lyked that your Grace 
towcbed my said Lord and my Lord Dacres, in that 
that theire opinions had bene to the lett of the great 
Roode which if hit had bene ere this tyme made in to 
Scotland, as by your prudent advice hit had if theyre 
opinions with other had not bene to the contrarie, hit 
shold, as by the Queues Lettre appereth, have bene 
th^occasion of some great and good effecte. 

His Highnes also well allowed that your Grace 
noteth not onely remisse dealing, but also some suspi- 
tione in that the Lord Dacre so litle estemede the 
mynde and opinion of the Kings sister, wherof he had 
by his servant so perfait knowledge. 

Finally his Highnes is of the mjnde of your Grace, 
and singularly commendeth your policie in that your 
Grace detenjaineth for a finall way that my Lord Ad- 
mirall shall sett forth his entreprises without eny longer 
tracte of tyme, not ceacing to preace theym with all the 
annoyance possible till they fall emestely and effectu- 
ally to some bettre tra3nie and conformitie. And veryly 
his Highnes thinketh as your Grace writeth, that for 
eny lakke of those things which as he wryteth are not 
yet cummen to hym, he shold not have neded to 
forbore to have done theym with smaller Roods, at the 
lest way some annoyauns in the meane season. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 205 

I redde also to his Highnes the Lettre of M'^. Doctor 
Knyght, written un to your Grace, with your Grace^s 
Lettres written to my selfe, by the tenor wherof his 
Grace well perceiveth your moost prudent answere de- 
vised and made as well to his said embassiator as to 
thembassiator of themperor, concemyng the disburs- 
yng of such money as his Highnes shold lay owte for 
th'entretenement of the x^ lance knights, wherin his 
Grace highly well approveth, as well your moost poli- 
tique foresight, so wisely dowting leste this delay of the 
declaration myght happen to b^ a device wherby th**- 
emperor myght spare his awne charge and entreteign 
th'^almaignes with th'only coste of the Kings Grace, as 
also your moost prudent ordre taken therin, by which 
his Highnes shalbe bounden to no charge excepte the 
Duke first passe the Articles sent by Sir John RussU, 
and that the x^ almaynes be levied and joyned with 
the Duke and he declared enemy to the French King. 

I red also to his Highnes the copie of your Graces 
Lettres devised to M. Doctor Sampson and M. Jer- 
nyngham, wherin his Highnes well perceived and 
marked what labor and payn your Grace had taken 
as well in substantial! advertising his said embassiators 
at length of all occurraunts here, with the goodly re- 
hersall of the valiaunt acquitall of his army on the See 
not onely there done, but also descending on the land 
with all his preparations and armyes sett forth and 
furnyshed as well toward France as Scotland, as also 



ORIGINAL LETTKK8. 

in your good and substantial! instructions geven un to 
theym for the semblable advauncyng of th'^emperors 
Army and actuall invasion to.be made on that side for 
his part. 

His Highnes hath also seen and signed the Lettres 
by your Grace devised in his name, as well to Don 
Ferdinando and to the Duke of Mechelberge in answere 
of their late lettres sent un to his Grace, as also to 
the Duke of Ferrare in commendation of the Kings 
Orators in case the Duke accepte the Ordre. 

In the reding and advising of all which things, his 
Highnes saied that he perceived well what labor, stu- 
die, payn, and travaile your Grace had taken in the 
device and pennjng of so many, so greate things, so 
high well dispached in so brief t)rme, whan the onely 
redyng therof held hym above twoo howres. His 
Highnes therfore commaunded me to write un to your 
Grace that, for your labor, travaile, study, paine, and 
diligens he geveth your Grace his moost harty, and not 
more harty than highly well-deserved thanks. And 
thus our Lord long preserve your good Grace in ho- 
nor and helth. At Okyng the first day of Septembre. 
Your humble Orator and moost 
bounden beedman 

THOMAS MOKE. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 207 

LETTER LXXIII. 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal fVolset/. 

[MS. COTTOXr. TIT. B. t. foL 270. Orig,] 



Hit may lyke your good Grace to' be advertised 
that the Kings Highnes this nyght going to his souper 
called me to hym secretely, and commaunded me to 
wryte unto your Grace that where as hit hatli pleased 
our Lord to call to his mercy M'^. MyrJfyn late Aldre- 
man of London, his Grace very greatly desireth for 
the speciall favor which he bereth toward Sir William 
Tyler, that the same Sir "William shold have the widoo 
of the said late Aldreman in mariage. For the fur- 
theraunce wherof his Highnes considering your Grace^s 
well approved wisedome and dexteritie in th^'acheving 
and bringing to good passe his vertuouse and honor- 
able appetites, commaunded me with diligence to ad- 
vertise your Grace that his Highneis in moost hartie 
wise requyreth your Grace that hit may lyke you, at 
the contemplation of this his affectuouse request, by 
your high wisedome to devise, put in ure», and pur- 
sue the moost efFectuall meanys by which his Grace's 
desire may in this mater best be brought abowt and 
goodly take effecte; wherein his Highnes saith that 
your Grace shall do him a right specidl pleasure, and 

• fortune, destiny. 



208 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

bynd the said Sir William duryng his life to pray for 
your good Grace. Thus mych hath his Grace in this 
byhalfe commanded me to write to Yours ; whom both 
Our Lord long preserve in honor and helth together. 
At Esthamstede the xvij*^ day of Septembre. 
Yo*^. humble Orator and moost 
bounden Beedman. 

THOMAS MORE. 



LETTER LXXIV. 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wdsey, 
[ms. cotton, calig. b. VI. foL 439. Or%g,\ 



Hit may like your good Grace to be advertised 
that I have this nyght, after that the Kings Grace had 
souped, presented and distinctely redde un to his High- 
nes as well your Grace's Lettre dated the xxj^^ day of 
this present Septembre addressed un to my selfe, as 
the iiij. lettres of the Quene of Scotts, directed twayne 
to the Kings Grace, and thother twayn to my Lord of 
Surrey ; and also the twoo lettres by your good Grace 
in the Kings name moost politiquely devised un to the 
said Quene of Scotts. For which your labour, payne, 
traveil, diligence, and study therin used, his Grace 
geveth unto Yours his moost affectuouse thankis. And 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^9 

for as mych as in the reding of my Lord of Surrey's 
Lettre directed un to your Grace, the King noted that 
my said Lord had all redy wrytten un to the Quene of 
Scotts answer un to both her said Lettres : his Grace 
requyreth Yours that it may lyke you to send hym 
the copies which his lettre specifieth to have sent un 
to your Grace. 

His Grace also thinketh hit right good that the 
Humes and Duglas be received upon convenient hos- 
tages ; and that as well the Chauncellor as the other 
Lords mencioned in the Quenes lettre shold be at- 
tempted by promessis, gifts, and good policie to be 
wonne from the Duke and his faction. 

And for as mych as his Grace mych desireth in 
these things to be advertised of your moost politique 
advise and counsaile, which he thinketh your Grace 
entendeth to declare by way of instructions to be gevyn 
un to my said Lord of Surrey, his Highnes therfore 
hartely requyreth your Grace that it may lyke the 
same tor send to hym the said instructions, that his 
Grace may by the same be kmed of your Grace^s 
prudent advise and counsaile in the premissis. 

His Highnes thinketh hit very necessary not onely 
that my lord of Surrey were in all possible haste ad- 
vertised of the declaration of the Duke of Burbon, but 
also that the same were insert within the lettre which 
the Quene of Scottes shall shew to the Lordis, with 
good exaggeration of the tyranny for which he re- 

VOL. I. P 



SIO ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

nounceth the French King; and of the harme and 

rujme that is lykely to fall to Fraunce therby. 

His Highnes also requyreth your Grace to paise^ 

and considre the clawse of the Queny'*s lettre by whidi 

she desireth with her trustie servants to be received in 

to his realme, and how your high wisedome thinketh 

good that mater to be ordered or answered. And to 

th'^entent in all these things your Grace may the more 

conveniently send h)rm your moost prudent advise^ he 

hath commaunded me, with these presents, to remitt 

all the said wrytings un to your good Grace, to be by 

your good Grace agajme sent un to his Highnes with 

your moost politique counsaile theruppon. And thus 

our Lord long preserve your good Grace in honor and 

helth. Wrytten at Woodstok the xxij^l' day of Sep- 

tembre at mydnyght. 

Your humble orator and moost 

bounden beedman 

To my Lord Legates thomas more. 

goed Grace. 



LETTER LXXV. 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey. 
[ms. cotton, calio. b. I. foL 306. Orig.\ 



Hit may lyke your good Grace to be advertised 
that I have this nyght received and presented un to 

• weigh. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 811 

the Kings Grace as well your Graces Lettre wrytten 
to ray selfe dated this present Day, as also the copies 
of my Lord of Surreis Lettres wrytten to the Quene 
of Scotts, with the copie of your Graces formar Lettre 
wrytten and sent un to my said Lord, and your Lettre 
of new devised at this tyme to be sent ; by all which 
his Highnes well perceiveth not onely your Graces 
high polycie in the devising and ordering of his af- 
feires and busynes comprised in the same but also your 
mervelouse diligence and celerite in th^epedition^and 
spede of the same; for his Highnes seeth all such 
things as he commanded me to put your Grace in re- 
memberaunce of on his byhalfe, by your high diligence 
anticipated, and all redy done ere his Grace thought 
theron. Wherfore his Highnes with moost harty 
thanks un to your Grace for your great labour, payne, 
and diligence used therein, hath signed the lettres in 
his name by your Grace devised un to his sistre the 
Quene of Scotts, commanding me forthwith to depech 
the Post agayn un to your Grace with the same. And 
thus our Lord long preserve y6ur good Grace in ho- 
nor and helth. At Wodestok the xxiiij* day of Sep- 
tembr 

Your hufld)le Orator and moost 
bounden beedman 

THOMAS MORE. 

• The expedition. 



212 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER LXXVI. 

Sir Thomas Mare to Cardinal Wohey. 
[ms. cotton, calio. b. I. fol. 301. Orig.'\ 



Hit may Kke your good Grace to be advertised 
that I have this nyght, after the Kings Grace had 
souped, presented and redde un to his Highnes as well 
your Graces Lettre wry tten un to me dated Yesterday, 
as the Lettres of the Quene of Scotts wrytten to my 
lord of Surrey, with the Lettres of his Lordishippe, 
as well answerjmg her Grace as advertising yours. 
The Kings Highnes is glad that my Lord of Surrey 
now bygynneth savourely to perceve that the lords of 
Scotland entend but onely to dreve over the tjnme of 
theyre annoyaunce ; and mych would his Grace have 
bene gladder that my Lord had savored hit before, for 
than his Grace thinketh that as well the feat that shall 
now be done, or is by this done, myght have bene 
long synnys done, and peradventur mych more. His 
Highnes also lyketh not all the beste that my Lord of 
Suwey in his lettre wrytten to the Quene which he 
wold she shold shew to the lords of Scottland appointeth 
theym the tyme and place where they shall send to 
hym to Gedworth, for his Grace thinketh the tyme 
and place so certaynly knowen it shalbe a good oc- 
casion to the Scotts the more surely to withstand his 
entreprise. How be it his Grace trusteth in God hit 
shalbe or is by this tyme well inough. 



ORIGINAL L£TT£BS. 213 

His Highnes is very sory of the plage, and the 
ferfent agues fallen in his army to the great minishing 
of the same ; for the remedy and reinforcing wherof 
his Highnes thinketh no thinge more profitable than 
for the causes in your Grace's Lettres moost prudently 
remembred, that the places of them that are departed 
to God, or sent bakke to Calais to be cured, shold 
be, and so is he content they shalbe supplied with as 
many horsemen of those parties. And thereof his 
Grace requyreth Yours that my lord of Suffolke may 
be advertised. « 

Finally that hit lyketh your good Grace so be- 

nygnely to accepte and take in worth my pore service, 

and so far above my merits to commend the same in 

that Lettre which of myn accustumed maner your 

Grace foreknewe the Kings Grace shold se ; wherby 

his Highnes shold have occasion to accepte hit in lyke 

wise, and so lyked your Grace in one Lettre both geve 

me your thanks and gete me his. I were my good Lord 

very blynde if I perceived not, very unkinde if ever I 

forgatCy of what graciouse favor it procedeth, which I 

can never otherwise reanswere than with my pore 

prayor, which duryng my life shall never iaile to pray 

to God for the preservation of your good Grace in honor 

and helth. At Wodestoke the xxvj'^ day of Septembre. 

Your humble Orator and moost 

bounden beedman 

To my Lord Legats THOMAS MORE, 

good Grace. 



^14 ORIGIlfAL LETT£B8. 

LETTER LXXVII. 

The Earl of Surrey to Cardhml Wolsey after the 
humvng of Jedburgh, a. d. 1523. 

[ms. cotton, calio. b. II. fol 2D. Orig,\ 



Plesith it your Grace to be advertised, that upon 
Fridaye at x. a elok at nyght I retomed to this towne, 
and all the gamy sons ^ to their places assigned, the 
busshopri^e men, my lorde of Westmerland, and my 
Lol*d Dacre in likewise, every man home with their 
companys, without los of any men thanked be God 
saving viij. or x. slajme, and dyvers hurt at skyrmishis 
and saults of the towne of Gedworth and the for- 
teresses ; whiche towne is soo suerly brent, that noo 
garnysons ner none other shalbe lodged there, unto 
the tyme it be newe buylded : the brennyng whereof 
I commytted to twoo sure men, Sir William Bulmer 
and Thomas Tempeste. 

The Towne was moche bettir then I went^ it had 
been, for there was twoo tymys moo howses therein 
then in Berwike, and veW buylded with many honest 
and faire howses therein, sufficiente to have lodged m^ 
horsemen in gamyson, and six good towres therein ; 
which towne and towres bee clerely distroyed, brent, 
and throwen downe. Undoubtedly there was noo jor- 
ney made into Scotland in noo 'manys^' day, leving 

• ^nrisons. *> wcncd. <^ well. * man's. 



ORIGINAL LETTEilS. 215 

with soo fewe a nombre, that is recownted to bee soo 
high and enterprice as this, bothe with thies contrey- 
men and Scottishmen, nor of truthe somoche hurt, 
doon ; but in th'ende a great mysfortune ded fall, onely 
by foly, that suche order as was comaunded by me to 
bee kepte was not observed, the maner wherof herafter 
shall ensue. 

Bifore myn entre into Scotland I appointed Siir 
William Bulmer and Sir William Overs to be mar- 
shallis of th^army : Sir William Bulmer for the van- 
gard, and Sir William Overs for the rengard. In 
the vangard I appointed my lord of Westmerland as 
cheif, with all the busshopriche. Sir William Bulmer, 
Sir William Overs, my Lord Dacre with all his com- 
pany ; and with me remayned all the rest of the gar* 
nysons and the Northumberland men. I was of coun- 
saill with the Marshallis at th^ordoring of our lodgr 
ings, and our campe was soo well envirowijed with or- 
dynaunce, carts, and diks, that hard it was to entre or 
issue, but at certain places appointed for that purpoos ; 
and assigned the mooste commodious place of the saici 
campe for my Lord Dacre company next the water, 
and next my Lord of Westmerland. And at suche 
tyme as my Lord Dacre came into the feld, I being 
at the sault * of th^abbay, whiche contynued unto twoo 
houres within nyght, my said lord Dacre wold in nou 
wise bee contente to ly within the campe, which wa^ 



216 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

made right sure, but lodged hymself without, where- 
with at my retorne I was not contente, but than it was 
to late to remove. The next day I sente my sdd 
Lord Dacre to a strong hold called Femherst, the 
lorde whereof was his mortall enemy, and with him 
Sir Arthure Darcy, Sir Marmaduke Constable, with 
vij c. of their men, one cortoute, and dyvers other good 
peces of ordynaunee for the feld. The seid Fem^ 
herste stode marvelous strongly within a great woode. 
The seid twoo knights with the moost parte of their 
men, and Strikland your Graces servaunte, with iij C. 
Kendall men, went into the woode on fote with th^or- 
dynaunce, where the seid Kendall men were soo han- 
dled that they found hardy men that went noo foote 
bak for theym. The other twoo Knights were alsoo 
soo sharply assayled that they were enforced to call 
for moo of their men, and yet could not bring th'or- 
dynaunce to the forteresse unto the tyme my lord 
Dacre with part of his horsemen lighted on fote, and 
marvelously herdly handled hymself; and fynally with 
long stikmyshing * and moche difficultie, gut forthe th^ 
ordynaunee, wan the howse, and threwe downe the 
same. At whiche skyrmyshe my seid Lord Dacre 
and his brother Sir Cristofer, Sir Arthure, and Sir 
Marmaduke, and many other gentilmen, ded marve- 
lously hardly, and found the best resistence that hath 
be seen sith my comyng to thies parties, and above 

■ dkirmjjihinf,'. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 217 

xxx^.* Scottis slayne, and not passing iiij. English men ; 
but above sixty hurt. Aftir that, my seid Lord re- 
tornyng to the campe, wold in nowise bee lodged in 
the same, but where he laye the furst nyght : and he 
being with me at souper about viij. a clok, the horses 
of his company brake* lowse, and sodenly ran out of 
his feld in suche nombre that it caused a marvelous 
alarome in our feld ; and our standing watche being 
set, the horses cam ronnyng along the campe, at 
whome were shot above one hundred sheif of arrowes 
and dyvers gonnys, thinking they had bee Scotts that 
wold have saulted the campe. Fynally the horses 
were soo madde that they ran like wild dere into the 
feld above xv. C. at the leest in dyvers companys ; and 
in one place above 1. fill downe a great rok and slewe 
theymself ; and above two hundred and fifty ran into 
the towne being on fire, and by the women taken and 
caried awaye, right evil brent ; and many were taken 
agayne ; but fynally by that I can esteme by the nom- 
bre of theym that I sawe goo on fote the next daye, 
I think there is lost above viij. C. horses, and all with 
foly for lak of not lying within the campe. I dare not 
write the wonders that my Lord Dacre and all his 
company doo saye they sawe that nyght, vj. tymys, of 
sprits and ferefuU sights. And unyversally all their 
company saye playnely, the Devill was that nyght 
amongs theym vj. tymys. Whiche mysfortune hath 
blemyshed the best Jorney that was made in Scotland 



S18 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

many yeres. I assure your Grace I found the Scotts 
at this tyme the' boldest men, and the hotest that ever 
I sawe any nation : and all the Jomey, upon all parts 
of th^army kept us with so contynuall skyrmyshe that 
I never sawe the like. If they myght assemble forty 
thousand as good men as I nowe sawe fifteen hundred 
or two thousand, it wold bee an herd encounter to 
mete theym. Pitie it is of my lord Dacres losse of the 
horses of his company. He brought with hym above 
four thousand men, and lodged one nyght in Soot- 
land in his moost mortall enemys contre. There is 
noo herdyer ner bettir knyght, but often tym he doth 
not use the most sure ordre; whiche he hath nowe 
payed derely for. Written at Berwike the xxvij. of 
September. 

Your most bownden 

T« SURREY. 

• To my Lord Legats 
goode Grace. 



LETTER LXXVIII. 

Cecily Marchioness of Dorset to Thomas Cromwell^ 

afterwards Lord Cromwell. 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. XIII. foL 91. Orig.] 

* J* The following short Letter, in itself, perhaps, is of no great mo- 
mcnt; but it indicates some connexion between lord Cromwell in his 
od&a da]^ and the household of the Marchioness of Dorset, of whidi, 
t jk bdieved, no notice appears elsewhere. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 219 

The lady Cecily, the writer of this letter, was the daughter of Lord 
Bon vile, and widow of Sir Thomas Grey first Marquis of Dorset, who was 
one of tlie assassins of the son of Henry the Sixth after the hattle of 
Tewkesbury. She married to her second husband Henry Earl of Wilt- 
shire, whom she also survived. 

Leonard Grey her son, mentioned in this Letter, was the same who in 
the 27*. of Henry the Eighth officiated as Deputy of Ireland for the 
young Duke of Richmond, and who was behead^ in the 31 «*. of Henry 

Vlllth. 



Cromwell, I woU that yow send to me in hast the 
trussynn bed of cloth of tyssewe, and the fether bed, 
wyth the fustyons and a materas longynn to the same 
wyth the cownterpoynt ; also I woU that you delyver 
all «uch tents, pavylyons, and hales® as you have of 
myne on to my sonne Lenard, as you tender my ple- 
sur. And thys shall be your sufFycyant warrant and 
dyscharge att all tymes. Wrytyn at Bedwell thys 
present Thorysdaye by foore our Lady daye the 
Assumpcyon. 

CECYL DORSETT. 



LETTER LXXIX. 

to the Earl of Surrey^ Lieutenant of the 

North. A. D. 1523. 

[ms. cotton. TITUS B. I. foL 112. OrigJ\ 

*^* The ^gnature of the writer of this Letter appears to have been de- 
signedly torn off. The Letter itself contains a picture, drawn at the moment, 
of the resistance which King Henry the Eighth received from the Parlia- 



220 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

nient held at the Blackfricrs in 1623, upon the demand for a supply ; the 
question, to use the words of the writer, being '' debated and beaten fbr 
FIFTEEN or SIXTEEN days together." 

M^olsey, in his most gorgeous state, his cardinal^s hat borne before him, 
went down to the House to make the demand in person : and aftenrazdi 
went a second time, to reason, as he said, with those who opposed the 
measure. 

The Answer of Sir Thomas More the Speaker, on the first of these oc 
casions, was not unlike that which another Speaker made to Chades the Fint 
when he demanded the Five Members. The Cardinal, it is said, having 
finished his harangue, was greatly offended at the profound silence whidi 
ensued ; whereupon the Speaker, falling on his knees, excused the sile&oe 
of the House, by saying they were abashed at the sight of so noble a per- 
sonage ; adding, that, for himself, except all the members present could put 
their several thoughts into his head, he was unable to give his Grace an 
answer in so weighty a matter. 

Henry the Eighth was so much disgusted with the opposition which he 
met with at tliis time, that he did not call another Parliament for seven y^an. 



Pleas it youre good lordship to understande, that 
sithens the begyimyng of the Parliamente there hathe 
bene the grettiste and soreste hold in the lower Hous for 
payemente of ij^ of the li. that ever was sene I thinke 
in any parliamente. This matier hathe bene debated 
and beatten xv. or xvj dayes to giddir : the hieste ne- 
cessiiie alleged on the Kings behalf to us that ever was 
herd of : and of the contrarie, the hieste povertie con- 
fessed, as well by knights, squiers, and gentilmen of 
every quarter, as by the commoners, citezeins, and bur- 
gessis. There hathe bene suche hold that the Hous 
was like to have bene dissevered; that is to sey the 
Knights being of the Kings Counsaill, the Kings ser- 
vaunts, and gentilmen, of the oon partie, whiche in soo 
long tyme were spoken with and made to sey ye ; it 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 22 1 

may fortune, contrarie to their hert, will, and con- 
science. Thus hanging this matier, yestirdaye the 
more parte being the Kings servaunts, gentilmen, were 
there assembled ; and so they being the more parte, 
wilhd and gave to the King ij^ of the li. of goods or 
lands, the beste to be takene for the King, all lands to 
paye ij^ of the li from the loweste to the hieste ; the 
goods to paye ij*. of the li. from xx^* upwards; and 
from xP. of goods to xx^'. to pay xvj^. of the li. and 
undre x\\ every persone to paye viij^. this to be payed 
in ij. yeres. I have herd no man jm my lif that can 
remembre that ever ther was geven to any oon of the 
Kings auncestours half somoche at oon graunte ; ner I 
thinke there was never suche a presidente sene before 
this tyme. I beseke almightie God it maye bee well 
and peasibly levied, and surely payed unto the Kings 
Grace with oute grudge, and specially with oute los- 
ying the good wills and true herts of his subjects, 
whiche I rekene a ferre grettir treasiu-e for a King then 
gold or silver. And the gentilmen whiche muste take 
payne to levie this money amongs the Kings subjects I 
think shalhave no htle besynes aboute the same. 

My lorde Cardinall hathe promysed on his feithe 
that the ij^ of the li of lone money shalbe payed with 
a good will and with thanke. But no daye is appoyntid 
thereof. 

I thinke nowe that this matier is soo ferre passid 
that the parhament woll sone bee endid. 

Asto the Convocation amongs the prests, the furste 



- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

daye of their apparence assone as masse of the holie 
gooste at Paulis was done, my lorde Cardinall assited 
all theim t'appere before hym in his ConvocatioQ at 
Westm*": whiche soo did: and diere was a nother 
masse of the holie gooste : and within vj. or vij dayes, 
the prests proved that all that my lorde CardinallsCon- 
VDCation shnld doo, it shuld bee voyde, because that 
their somons was t^appere before my Lorde of Caun- 
tirbury ; whiche thing soo espied, my lorde Cardinall 
hath addressed oute of newe Citacions in to every cun- 
trey commaunding the prests t'appere before hym viij. 
dayes after th'Ascencon ; and then I thinke they i^ial- 
have the iij"^ masse of the Holie Grooste. I praye god 
the holie gooste bee amongs theim and us bothe. I 
doo tremble to remembre the ende of all thies hyc axwi 
newe entreprises : for oftene tymes it hathe bene sene 
that to a newe entreprise there folowethe a newe ma- 
ner and strange sequele. God of his mercie sende his 
grace of suche facion that it maye bee all for the beste. 

T'assertayne you of the King of Denmark^s * being 
yn Flaundres with xvj. shippis with his wif and chil- 
drene mesemethe I shuld not write it unto you, be- 
cause I thinke ye bee advertised thereof by poste. 

Howe this ij^ of the li shalbe levied, of what maner 
ot at what dayes it shalbe payed, yn good feithe I 
knowe not as yet. 

Oute of Spayne we have newes that there is a truce 
or abstynence of Were taken bitwe themperor and 

• Christian the Second. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

theim of Fraunce. And I thinke nowe that this money 
is grauntid, soo shall it bee with us. 

Under youre good favor mesemethe, and if ye thinke 
it beste, it were a gracious dede for you, to bee meane 
unto the Kings Highnes that x or xij M. *' of this 
money mought bee bestowed on the bielding up againe 
of the Piles and Castells on oure englishe borders ; 
specially nowe that they of Scotland bee prostrate by 
your good and hye pollicie. 

As other newes or affayres shall chaunce soo shall 
I bee glad w* diligence ^advertise you of from tyme to 
tyme. 

My Lord Priveseall, my Lord Vaux, and Sir 
Thomas Lovell bee all iij. right sike at this presente 
daye, and as it is seyd Lorde Vaux in great daunger. 
Written at London on Assencon daye by hym that 
during his lif shalb^ glad to bee at your commaunde- 
ments with his service. 



LETTER LXXX. 

The Earl of Surrey to Cardinal Wclsey. a. d. 1523. 

[ms. cotton. CALI&. B. VI. fol. 315. Orig,^ 

*J^ The Reader is now presented with Four Letters illustrative of the 
bickering which was stiU maintained between the English and the Scots. 

iTie first, j&om the son of that Lord Surrey who gained the Victory of 
Flodden, wUl be read with considerable interest. It was written at the time 
he began to collect his Army against the expected Invasion of the Duke 
of Albany. The Prioress of Coldstream is represented in it as a spie 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

upon whose information he placed his best reliance ; and her aenrices in 
this way aie not unfrequently recorded in other Letters ■. Some singalai 
anecdotes will also be found in it of Albany himself. 

The succeeding Letter announces Lord Surrey's farther preparations, 
and by the anxiety which he expresses for his family, seems to indicate 
that a contest was expected, in which hope was not unmixed with dis- 
advantageous apprehensions. 

The result which will be found in the third Letter, exhibits Albany as 
deficient in courage as in military skill. 

The fourth, is King Henry's Letter to Lord Surrey communicating 
his thanks for the defeat of Albany. 



Plesith it your Grace too be advertised, that this 
Day at x. a clok I received one Lettre of newes from 
Sir William Bulmer sente hym fro the Priores of 
Calestreme, and one other sente to me fro the Lord 
Ogle fix)m Wark of such newes as he hath fro the 
Priores of Ocles in Scotlande. I beleve right moche that 
the contents of the Priores of Calestremys Lettres bee 
trewe ; and thoder doo not moche vary fro the same. 
Alsoo by dyuers other wayes I have advertisments that 
the Duke prepareth all that he can t'invade this realme 
with the light of this nexte newe Mone, and by his 
words doo right litle esteme the poure of England. 

• Thomas Grey, second marquis of Dorset, who in 1524 was warden of the East 
and Middle Mardies, writing to King Henry the Eighth April 16<^ that year, says, 
'* Please it your moste noble Grace to be advertysed that of late the Queue's Grace 
of Scotlond your Sister wrote her especiall Lettres of requeste aswell unto my Loide 
your Lieutenant as to me, to forbere and save fro brennyng a poore religeus House 
of Nunnes called Calbstrbmb, the Prioresse wherof her Grace reporteth to be 
very goode and kynde unto her. Wheropon bothe my seyd Lorde Lieutmante and 
I have graunted hyr requeste, and have so writon unto her Grace aooordia^. A 
nother cause which moved us the sonner to assure the seyd House, was, by cause the 
Prioresse therof is oon of the beste and assured spyes that we have in Scotlond for 
whiche cause we maye not well spare her. She lately sent us worde howe that the 
Quenes Grace is deperted from Sterling, whither she doth not ascertain us, and hath 
takyn with hyr all the Frenshemen that were aboute the Kings Grace hyr Sone. 
whiche I preye Gode be trewe ; and as we shall here and understonde more at her 
Grace, or other newes fro the seyd prioresse so shall your Highenesse be advertysed 
from tyme to tyme accordingly." MS. Cotton. Calig. b. hi. fol. 255. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 225 

Wherefor to thefFecteofyo^ Graces late Lettre I shall 
tomorrowe send lettres to all the noble men and gen- 
tilmen dwelling withen the Shh-is contejoied in my 
commyssion too bee here in this Towne the xx*'. daye 
of this Moneth, trusting that and all men come ac- 
cordingle the seid Duke shall fynd more sharp recist- 
ance than he doth loke for. And notwithstanding that 
the weder hath bee here soo foule with mervelous greate 
rayne dyvers dayes, and mooste specially yesterdaye 
with rayne and this daye with snowe, soo that the opi- 
nion of many wise men is it shalbe very difficile for the 
seid Duke to cary any greate ordynance' onles it bee 
to Berwike, yet forasmoche as he myght doo enfynyte 
hurte in over rynnyng the Contre onles he were re- 
cisted, I shale cause all my seid poure to come fore- 
wards, and to bee here at the daye prefixed. And if 
I shall see that the Duke shall altre his purpoos in 
setting furth I shall contermawnde theym, too then- 
tente the Kingis Highnes shalbe put too no more 
chardge shalbe requysite; whereunto I shalhave the 
beste regard I can, the daunger of distruccion of the 
contre by thennemys provided for. 

Mooste humble beseching your Grace too helpe 
that some noblemen and gentilmen of the Kingis hous 
and the south parties maye be sente hither though 
they bring no greate nombres with theym. God 
knoweth if the poreste gentilman in the Kingis hous 
were here, and I at London and were advertised of 

VOL. I. a 



296 OKICrKAL LETTERS. 

dues newes I woU not £ule to knele upcm my knees 
hifiwe the kings grace too have licence to come hither 
in poste too bee at the daye of batayle. And if yong 
noble men and gentilmen be not desierous and willing 
to be at suche jomeys, and to take the payne and yeve 
the adventure, and the Kingis highnes well contented 
with thoos that woll so doo, and not regarding others 
that wolbe but dauncers, disers, and carders, his Grace 
shall not bee well served when he wold bee ; for mea 
withoute experience shall doo small servyce^ and ex- 
perience of war woll not be had withoute it be soughl 
for and the adventure yeven. Of likelihode no man lev- 
ing * shall ever ly ve to se the Scotts attempte f envade 
this realme with the powre of Scotland if they may bee 
\vell resisted nowe. And by many wayes I am ad-* 
vertised that the Duke of Albany is a mervelous wit 
full man, and woll beleve noo mannys coimsaiU, but 
woll have his owne opinion folowed. And bicause 
the Frenche King hath be at soo greate chardges by 
his provoking, having his wiffs inherytance lying 
within his domynyons, dare not for no Scottish coun- 
sell forbere fenvade this realme. I am also advertised 
that he is so passionate that and he bee aperte amongis 
his fimiiliers, and doth here ^ any thing contrarius to 
lus myende and pleasure, his accustumed manner is 
too take his bonet sodenly of his hed and to throwe 
il in the fire ; and no man dare take it oute, but let 

• Hviug. fc-hear. 



ORIGII9AL LETTERS. 227 

it to be brent. My Lord Dacre doth affinne that at his 
last being in Scotland he did borhe above a dosyn 
bonetts aftir that maner. And if he be suche a man, 
with Grods grace we shall spede the bettir with hym. 
Fynally, mooste humble I beseche your Grace to send 
more money, at the leeste viij m? ; and t^advertise me 
oi the Kingis pleasure and yours howe I shalbe liir- 
ther ordred in any thing ye woU conttnaunde m^, 
wMche too the beste of my poure I shall fulfill, trtistt- 
ing that the gonners be well on the waye hiderwto^. 
And sory I am that the Kirigis Higfcnes and yotii* 
Grace be nowe so fer in sondre, whiche I perceive is 
th'occasion that my Lettres sente to your Grace from 
tjone too tyme bee the lenger un answered, and also 
moche slouth is used by the Posts wiche maye b* 
amended if it woll pleas your Grace to write one open 
Lettre too all the Posts, chardgiftg theym to make such 
cffl5gence nowe in riding that your Graces Lettres fro 
London to this towne, and my Lettres fro this Towne 
to London, maye bee conveyed in xlviij. houres at th^ 
leeste, whiche they maye well doo. And thanked be 
God, thfs nyght and this daye I have ben well 
amended of my diseases. Written at Newcastetf the 
viij^ day of Octobr. 



To ray LoFd Legats 
good Grace. 



Your*s most bownden 

T. StTRREY. 
Q 2 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER LXXXI. 

Lord Surrey to Cardinal Wolsey, 
[m8. cotton, calio. b. VI. foL 289. Orig,\ 



Pleaseth it your Grace to bee advertised that I 
have forborne to write to your Grace sith the xviij. of 
this moneth, having no verey certain tydings what the 
Duke entendeth to do .unto this day that I have re- 
ceived dy vers Lettres as well fro the Quene of Scottis, 
fro Sir William Bulmer, and others, all which Lettres 
I send herewith unto your Grace. And where in one 
Lettre is conteyned that she doth send her servant 
unto me for peace comprehending Fraunce, I truste 
this night or tomorrow to be advertised fro your 
Grace of the Kingis pleasure and Your3 howe I shal- 
be ordred in aunswering any offre to be made to me 
for truse or peace, and shall defer making any answer 
unto the tyme I shall knowe the same. And as towch- 
ing the comprehension of France, onles 'your Grace 
do write to me what answer I shall make therein, I 
shall saye that I have none auctoritie to speke there- 
in ; and that I beleve verely the Kingis highnes woU 
not be content therewith, and that I believe his High- 
nes woU think the Duke of Albany to be too meane a 
personage to medle with soo high a matier : notwith- 
standing I woll advertise his Grace thereof, and when 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 229 

I shall knowe his mooste graciouse pleasure I shall 
advertise your Grace of the same. ' 

And as touching her comyng awaye I shall shewe 
her that I have commandemente to receive her if she 
come, notwithstanding I think she might both doo 
more good in Scotland to the Kingis highnes and to 
the King her son, then she shuld do being in England. 
Assuering her that she shall lak no good helpe of the 
Kingis Grace, she contynuing in her good mynde to- 
wards his Highnes. 

Also pleaseth it your Grace to be advertised that 
upon Tuysdaye last my Lord Marquise » with all the 
gentilmen of the Kingis hous came hither : and the 
same day came my lorde of Northumberland, my lord 
Clifford, my lorde Latymer, my lord Darcy, my lord 
Scrope. And sith that time is come all theire powere, 
and all other gentilmen of Yorkshire hooly, and in 
likewise Lancashire, and dyvers of Cheshire, Noting- 
ham, Derby, Staff, and Shropshire, and all your 
Grace^s retynue. And this daye is come your Grace's 
treasourer Sir William Gascoyne. I assure your 
Grace, God willing, we shall have men inoughe ; and 
the beste willed men uny versally fro the higheste to the 
loweste that ever I sawe. And bicause all bee not 
yet come asfer as Duresme, and also that the wether 
hath bee soo mervelously reyne whiche hath so raysed 
the waters that noo man maye pas from hens north- 

* Thumas Grey, second Marquis of Dorset. 



230 QRIQINAL LETTERS. 

ward. And 9iao fpr that I was not advertised that 
thfe Duke was set forewards, nor knowing whiche 
wieiye b0 wold hold, I haye stopped thps that came 
furste ia thi3 towne and bitwene this and Morpath 
md Hexhofsif and th'oders abouts Duresme. And 
tcmjorowe my JU)rde Marques shall marche to An- 
wike, and with h)rnj my lord Darcy and many others, 
to th'eqtente that and tjie Duke wold send in any 
good nombre to overrun the contre they maye be redy 
to defend the same. And I with the reste woll not 
marche past Morpath myself, and thos nowe that bee 
at Duresme unto this towne, unto the tyme J shall 
suerly know whether he woll goo to th'*Esteborder or the 
Weste. For if I shuld goo any further I shuld bee 
compelled to retorne for lak of vitell : for I can get 
no cariage in maner for money too cary any with me. 
Assuering your Grace that I think it not possible the 
Duke can bring his Ordinaunce unto Norham, Wark, 
or Carlizle before Mondaye, though it reyned no 
more unto that tyme, the waters bee nowe soo marve- 
lously greate that no man leving* hath seen them 
greatter ; but unto Berwicke he maye well com upon 
the ferther side of the water. Praying God to aend 
bym thither, where I truste he shall not onely con- 
sume his tyme in vayne, somany good men nowe be- 
ing within the Towne, but alsoo we comyng thidder 
shall have some reasonable store of vitell, and shalbe 



ORIGINAL LETTSRS. 



able to geve batayle at our advantage. Fjmally assure 
your Grace I and all others here bee all aferde of one 
thing that he shall not dare abide us. And grete pitie 
it were that the Kingis Highnes shuld spend thus 
moche money withoute batayle. And, as I think if 
he abide us we $hall mete about Tuysdaye fiexte. 

He doth make grete booste off the londyng off 
Richard de la Pole in Scotlond assewryng the Lordd 
off Scotlond that he shall have gret help in this realme, 
wherfor after my poure opinion it wer well done Sir 
Riz ap Thomas wer warned to be in a redynes, for 
the seid Due seith he shall londe in Wales. Iff your 
Grace know any man suspect I dout not ye woU pro- 
Vyde that he shall not shyp away. I know no man 
lyvyng that I shuld mystrust, but he hath spoken so 
largely and dayle doth^ that I know not what to thynk. 

Most humble besechyng your Grace that and 1 for- 
tewne to myscary in this Journey, to be gode latd to 
my poure chyldeme, asselvryiig your Grace that with- 
out the Kyng's gracious favour and your Grace's 
shewed unto them, they shalbe undone. For I have 
spent somoch to serve the Kyng^s Hyghnes, that, iff 
God do now his plesure off nl6, I shall leve them the 
pourest noblemanny'^s bhildeme that died in this 
realme thes xl. yers ; havyng neyther goods nor fote 
off londe to put in feofment to do them gode after me. 
And therfor most humble I beseche Your Grace to 
be gode and gracious Lord to them, for my poure 



QQ2 obigi:nal letters. 

service done in tymes past. Scribled the xxiij. day 
oft" October at xj. at nyght. » 

Yo". most bownden 



T. SURBEY. 



To my Lord Legats 
good Grace. 



LETTER LXXXII. 

Lord Surrey to King Henry the Eighth, 
[ms. cotton, calio. b. VI. fol. 304. Orig.l 



Plesith it your Highnes to be advertised that upon 
Satirdaye at night the Duke of Albany with a greate 
puysance brought his ordynaunce unto Werk, on the 
fer side of Twede, upon Scotland side, and began to 
shote right sore upon Sondaye by the breke of daye, 
and so contynued all that daye and Mondaye. At 
whiche tyme I being at Holy Island, vij. myles from 
Berwike, was advertised of the same at seven a clok at 
night the said Sondaye; and incontynente sent Let- 
ires to my lord Cardynalls company, my lord of North- 
umberland, my lord of Westmoreland at Sainte Cut- 
berts baner lying at Anwike and thereabouts, and in 
likewise to my lord Dacre and other lords and gen- 
tilmen lying abrode in the countre, too mete me at 

• The last iixtccu lines only of this letter are in Lord Surrey's own hand. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S33 

Barmer wood, fyve myles from Werk on Mondaye, 
who so ded. And the seid Monday at iij. a cloke at 
aftir none, the water of Twede being soo high that it 
could not be riden the Duke sent over ij M. Frenche 
men in bootis* to gif assault to the place, who with 
force entred the bas courte, and by Sir WiUiam Lizle 
captain of the Castell with a hundred with him were 
right manfully defended by the space of one houre 
and an half, without suffring theym t'entre the Inner 
Ward ; but fynally the seid Frenchemen entred the 
Inner warde, whiche perceiveid by the seid Sir William 
and his company frely set upon theym, and not onely 
drove theym oute of the Inner warde, but alsoo oute 
of the Uttir warde, and slewe of the seid Frenche men 
X. personys. And so the seid Frenche men wente 
over the water ; and incontynent the seid Sir William 
advertised me of the said assaulte, desiering too have 
reskue this daye, or els the place wold be no lenger 
kepte : whereof I being advertised by thre a clok this 
mornyng, avaunced foreward with the hole army by 
the breke of daye. And the Duke hering that I cam 
towards hym toke away his ordynance, and in like* 
wise departed hymself with his hoole company, but as 
yet I cannot advertise your Grace of trouth howe fer 
he is goon, but tomorrowe I doubte not I shall knowe 
the certentie. Sir I doubte moche that if he here 
that I breke this army that he woll retome with his 



SS4 ORIGINAL LETTSKS. 

ordynanoe unto Werk, whiche I feare woll not hold 
long againste hym'; for and if I had not made newe 
fortifications of bulwerks of erthe, it had not be ten* 
able one half daye. I wold it were in the See, for I 
knowe not how to get men to remayne in it. Sir mi* 
doubtedly ther was never man departed with mora 
shame nor with more feare than the Duke hath dooo 
this daye : and notwithstanding the greate Assemble 
that he hath made in Scotland he hath not doon x*. 
worth of hurte within your Grace'^s realme, nor never 
durste hymself entre the same. Sir I feare me it abaH 
not be possible for me to kepe this Army no longer 
togidder ; for suche as come oute of the bisshopriche^ 
this contre, and other places, at their own costs, have 
bpent all that they have; and with moche difficulte 
and faire words have kepte theym here thus long^ 
Notwithstanding I shall doo my beste to kepe theym 
togidder unto the tyme that I shall knowe the Duks 
army bee perspoiled. Assuering your Grace that 
maister Magnus hath but iij. M. marks lefte; and if 
th'*anny shuld be discharged tomorrowe next, I think 
X M. marks woll not paye that is owing' and conduyte 
money home. And considering howe paynefully and 
with howe good will they have served, it were pitie 
they shuld departe withoute having that was promysed 
theym, wherfore mooste humble I beseche your High- 
nes that convenyent money maye be sente hither with 
diligence. And if it come not bifore the departing 



OEIGIKAL LKTTEBS. S35 

hens of th'army, to th'^entente they shuld not goo hens 
groudging and speking shrodly, I shall dely ver theym 
asnioche as is here with asmoche more as I maye 
borowe. And also I shall bynd myself by my bill 
signed with myn hand to paye theym asmoche as 
shalbe due for the reste; mooste humble besech)nig 
your Highnes to see me dischardged of the same with 
convenyente diligence, or els I shalbe uttirly undoon 
for ever. Also I beseche your <Trace to send thank- 
full lettres to suche as have doon good servyce at this 
tyme, whos names be contejmed in a bill herein closed : 
also Ix. iiij'? blanks to be written here to suche as I 
doo not remembre the names of: assuering your Grace 
that in all my lif I never sawe somany Englishmen in 
none army nor so well willed as thees were fro the 
higheste to the loweste, nor never was gentilman so 
moche bounde as I have been this Jomey to All noble- 
men, gentilmen, and souldiors ; whiche favor they have 
shewed me for the greate love they here to your 
Highnes, and the desierous myende they have to doo 
your Grace service. Written in the Campe ij. myles 
from Wark this Tuysday at night. 

Your most humble subject and servant 

T, SUREEY. 
To the Kings most 
noble Grace. 



2S6 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER LXXXIII. 

Khiff Henry the Elffhth to the Earl of Surrey. 
[ms. cotton, calio. b. I. foL 307. Orig.] 



HEKBY E. By the King. 

Right trusty and right welbiloved Cousin we grete 
you wel; and have receyved your Lettres bearing 
date the iij'*.® and iiij*? dayes of this instant moneth, 
the first mencyonjmg the siege laide by the Duke of 
Albany unto the Castel of Werke with the assaulte 
geven unto the same, and the 'valiant defence therof 
by Sir William Lisle capitain of that place ; and how, 
upon knowlege geven to the said Duke that ye with 
our hole armye was coming to the rescue, he shame- 
fully and cowardly removed his siege and fled, but to 
what place ye then knewe not. By the ijl® Lettre ap- 
pcrith upon the reaporte of the Priores of Calstreme 
liowe that on Tuesday at nyght last past about myd* 
nyzt the said Duke being then at Eccles informed 
that our armye passed the Ryver after hym, removed 
from thens, toke his ordenance away, and is clerely 
departed ; the truthe wherof ye doubted not to be ad- 
vertised from diverse wayes by the next daye: at 
whiche tyme uppon the more knowlege had, ye wolde 
assemble al the noble men to divise and determyne 
what ye and they sholdc further do, desiring that after 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^7 

the Duks army skaled, we in consideration of your 
desease and seknes wolde discharge you, geving you 
licence to retourne: and thinking the lord Dacres 
aswel for his strenght as experience in those parties 
most mete to take the chargie of offyce of wardyn til 
suche tyme as that we shal appoint som other ther- 
unto; and finally requirjmg that bothe money and 
our lettres of Thanks may be sent, as in the said let- 
tres is conteyned more at large. As herunto we sig- 
nifie unto you, like as thancked be almyzty God, thise 
newes be right good, comfortable, and honorable unto 
us and this pur Realme ; so they be and shalbe unto 
the said Duke of Albany's perpetual reproche, shame, 
and losse of reputacion bothe in Fraunce, Scotland, 
and elliswhere, and to the no little abashement and 
discorage of the Frenche King, besids the alienation 
percace of the mynds of the Lords of Scotland more 
facily then afore from the faction of France unto our 
devotion. And for the grete travaile, labor, studie, 
pa)m, and diligence by you with al eflpect right ac- 
tively, valiauntly, and with perfite corage, discrecion, 
and good conduyte taken and used by many substan- 
cial, discrete, and politique wayes for resistence of the 
said Duke of Albany, with deliberation and intent to 
have geven hym bataile in cace he durst have abyden 
the same we geve unto you our most cordial and 
herty thanks; assuring you that amongs many your 
high and notable service done unto us, we shal have 



238 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

this in our contynual and perfite remembrance to your 
weale, exaltation, honor, and profite as your merits 
and deserts condignely and worthely do requyre. 
Praying you also to geve on our behalf special thanks 
unto all the lords, capitains, and other whiche to their 
grete pajm and travaile have right towardlyj benivo- 
lently, and conformably served us und^ you in this - 
Jomey, for whose more corage and comf(Mrte, we at 
this tyme sende suche lettres of thanks as ye desire. 

Over this we having tendre respect unto your helth^ 
and comfort, have resolved and determyned that upon 
advertisement receyved from you of dutUng^ of the 
said duks armye, and aunswer therupon gevm ub(6 
you, \^th ordre for establiriiing of suche gamisons and 
other directi(Hi to be taken there as for the suretie loid 
weale of that countrey shalbe thought expedient^ ye 
shal then have our Lettres of discharge of your office 
there and retome unto us accordingly ; bung myndyd 
according to your advice and opynyon that our right 
trusty counsaillor the Lorde Dacres whom we thdnke 
most mete and able therfor, shal exercise also tb^office 
of Wardejm of our Est and Myddel Marches for a 
season, to whom we shall: then with our lettres saide 
sufficient cmnmyssion accordmgly. Having no dbabte 
but that by suche direction as our most entinerly 
'welbeloved counsaillour the Lord Legate Cardnud 
Archebisshop of Yorke and our Chauncelor hathe 

• dispersing. 



ORIGINAL LETTEJRS. ^39 

advertised you, ye be before this tyme sufficiently fur- 
nished of money for defraying of that our Armye as 
shal appertayn. Yeven under our Signet at our manor 
of Woodstok the xij*? day of November. 

To our right trusty and right 
welbeloTed Cousin and Counsaillor th'Erle of 
Surrey oxir Treasorer and Admiralle of England. 



LETTER LXXXIV. 



King Henry the Eighth to the Citizens of London^ on 
their neglecting to provide 7u)rse8 for the carriage 
of his wines and provisions^ 

[MS. COTTON. VESP. C. XIV. M. ^4 b. Ofg'.] 



HENEY R. 

Trusty and welbiloved we grete you wele Sig- 
nifieng unto you it is shewed unto us that albeit our 
welbiloved servant Edward Vaux, oon of the purveyors 
of our wynes, hath been with you sundry tymes in our 
name to cause provision to be made for cariage of our 
wynes from that our Citie of London, for th'expenses 
of our Household, into these parties : yet never- 
thelesse ye have litle regarded the said provision, as it 
is sayed, wherby we be destitute of suche wynes as 
we wold have here : of the which your demeanur 
herin we cannot a litle mervaile : wherfor we advertise 
you of the same, willing and commaunding you that 



240 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

whansoever any our Surveyors either for Wynes or 
other stuf, from hensforth, shall reasorte unto you in 
our name for provision of cariage of the same hither 
or elliswhere where it shall fortune us to be, ye will 
eflPectually endevoir yourself for the qwyk expedidon 
therof, without any failing as ye entende to please us. 
Yeven under our Signet at our Monasterie of Aben- 
don the nj^ day of Aprill. 



LETTER LXXXV. 



Lord Doer e to Cardinal Wdsey^ reporting the Duke of 
Albam/s negociations with the Scottish Lords^ and 
his last departure Jor France, a. d. 1524. 

[ms. cotton, calio. b. II. foL 246. Orig,^ 

*♦* Upon the termination of Queen IVIargaret^s Regencyin consequence 
of her marriage with Angus, John Duke of Albany, the nephew of James 
the Third, was invited to take upon him the government of Scotland, and 
to rule during the minority of James the Fifth. He was at first reluctant 
to assume the charge, but finally, in the month of May 1515, arrived at 
Dunbarton to accept it. The Scottish historians have differed widely in 
the estimate of his character. Laing in completing the last reign of 
Henry's History of Great Britain, has represented him as a prince of great 
abilities and great virtues ; equally brave and prudent ; a lover of order 
and justice ; quick and decisive in his resolutions; and possessing gpreat 
command of temper in the most trying situations. Pinkerton has com- 
pletely reversed this character ; and it must be owned that the memohrs and 
documents of the time justify the reversal. His want of common temper 
and his deficiency in military skill have been illustrated in one or two former 
Letters ; and Wolsey went so far as to call him not only a coward but a 
fooL ^' And no litde comfort " he gays in a Ijetter to the lord Admiral, 
" it is to the Kings Highnes, to perceyve that His Grace hath so haidy a 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 241 

captain as ye be, against such a coward as the Duke of AlVany is known to 
be. So discreet and sober a servant, against so furious and wilful a fool " ". 

Bom in France, the Duke of Albany had some attachment to that 
country from nature ; and he was totally ignorant of the laws, and 
manners, and language of Scotland. If he signed his name, he wrote it 
in French^. He inherited large possessions in France from his mother, 
and had still larger with his wife, the heiress of Auvergne. He was in 
the practice also of calling the King of France his master. These cir- 
cumstances combined, led even his friends to fear that his propensity to 
France was greater, and perhaps blinder than the policy of Scotland re- 
quired. His administration, in consequence, became weak and suspected ; 
nor were prognostications wanting of a severe fate to the children of James 
the Fourth : it was conceived that Albany wanted only a favourable op- 
portunity to usurp the crown. Queen Margaret it will be remembered, 
distinctly ascribed the death of her second son, the Duke of Ross, to 
Albany's machinations : and Lord Dacre writing to Wolsey toward the 
close of Albany's career, strongly advised the keeping him at war till he 
should depart from Scotland, " for now" he says, *' during the time of 
war, he can in no wise establish the realm. And the same so being, he 
dare not proceed to his malicious intent and purpose for the destruction of 
the young King." But Margaret was not very scrupulous in her charges : 
and Dacre perhaps only joined in a suspicion which might fairly be al- 
lowed to be rife in those whose family owed the possession of a throne to 
the treachery of Richard the Third. 

Albany being himself convinced, at last, of the inefficiency of his Rule, 
asked permission to leave Scotland, to concert fresh plans with the King 
of France. What passed on this occasion with the Scottish Lords, will 
be seen in this and the accompan3ring Letter. He went, but returned no 
more : leaving an opening for quieter times than Scotland had recently 
known. 



My Lorde pleas it your Grace to knowe that this 
present hour I am advertised by my secrete espiall 
out of Scotland that the Lordes of the same contynu- 

• MS. Cotton. Calig. B. ii. fol. 166. 

<> Uniformly Jehan, or Jefian R. Among numerous other instances the reader 
may refer to the Cottonian Manuscripts, Calig. B. iii. folL 43. 70. 74, 78, 143, 149, 
178, S02 ; B. vi* foil. 91, 121, 122 b. Other Letters with the same signatures occur 
among Wolsey's papers in the Chapter House at Westminster. 

VOL. I. R 



$42 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

eng to giddres all Witson Weke in Edinburghe were 
in the Tolbothe of the same Monday, Tewisday, 
Wednisday, and Thurysday laste paste in counsdil, 
and there the Duke of Albany demanded of theim by 
his writing certein things articulerly as your Grace 
may perceive by theim, with the Lordes aunsweres 
ensewing ; that is to saye 

Furst the said Duke deasired thre monthes licence 
of the King and Lordes to th'intent in that tyme he 
mought departe in France and retome in Scotland 
again for certain considerations moving the King and 
Wele of Scotland, specially for the making of pro- 
vision for the defence and susteignyng of the Warres 
anempt and against the Kings Highnes our Soveraign 
Lorde and his realme, and to knowe what the Frenche 
Kings parte shulde be, to the supple of Scotlande ; 
and to that effect deasired a Commission with Servants 
of the Kings to passe with hym in Fraunce for his 
aunswere, good counseill, and supple to be had and 
knowen towards Scotlande. 

The Lordes aunswered sayeing it was not tyme now 
for hym to remeve furth of the Realme, remembring 
the grete damagies that the realme and pore subjects 
had susteigned in his absence past, and tx>nsidering 
that towards the King and Realme apperauntt grete 
warres, and also, as they were advertised, the Realme 
by all lyklyhode wolde in shorte tyme be preserved by 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 243 

the Kings Highnes our soverain Lorde and his reakne, 
and seing the King now at nonage, and he having 
govemaimce of his Reahne, it were not his honor to be 
absent fro the defence of it. He aunswered and said 
he had suche secrete busjmes to do with the Frenche 
King concemyng the same that he must nedes in his 
owne person speke with hym. The Lordes hering the 
same, graunted hym the said licence with a commission 
to oon Maister David Beton, a clerke, and a harrolde, 
to departe with hym in Fraunce ; which thre persones 
ar delivered with powier and departed with him ac- 
cordingly. 

Secundely the Duke desired the bande that was 
maide in Rowane* by the bishop of Dunkelde, the 
secretary, and the bushop of Ross to be kept by the 
King and the Lordes to the Frenche King, and no 
peas to be takin with this Realme of Inglande during 
the time of his licence; and further in his absens, 
without the advice of the French Kyng and hym. 

The Lordes aunswered that the bande made in 
Rowane* they were contented shulde be kept, so that 
the Frenche King wolde in the mean season kepe the 
bande maide to the King of Scotts ; and in likewise 
the lordes of Scotlande ar contented to contjmew the 
warre enduring his licence, and further, unto they 
had the Frenche Kings advice, except that the King^s 

■ Rouen. 

k2 



244 ORiaiNAL LETTERS. 

Highnes our Soverain lorde be his maigne power in 
the mean season fortuned to invade and pursue Scot- 
land, whiche Scotland were not able to resiste, that 
then he being absent, (of force) they must neds take 
peas with our said Soverain and his Realme. 

Thirdly the Duke desired the Queue and the Lordes 
to holde the King in the Castell of Striveljdng, and 
boundes divised for hyia afore, to his retome in Scot- 
land again, binding the Queue neither to confederate 
with the Kings Highnes our said Soverain lorde nor 
to consent to peas. 

To the wmch deasires the Queue denyed hym in a 
parte, saing if he yode awaye she must neds do for 
her self: and inlikewise the lordes said, promising to 
do their best to cause hym kepe in, so farr as they 
might solicite h3naa. 

Fourthly the Duke deasired that Griseb, a French- 
man, his servant, might remaine in Scotland as Trear- 
sourer of the same, having tVauctoritye of his office 
whiles his retome again in Scotlande, and nothing to 
be done or consented unto in any greate mattiers unto 
they had his advice. 

The Lordes aunswered, saing, what servant so ever 
he pleased to leif theim shulde be welcum, but they 
thought not suche a man mete for that office. 

Fiftly the Duke deasired that the Queue shulde be 
obeyed in all her rights. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 245 

The Lordes aunswered and said the pleasure and 
service that they might do shulde be at her com- 
mandement. 

Sextly and laste of all the Duke deasired to have 
and borrow of the. Lordes forty thousand Crownes of 
the Son' to fumishe hym certein wages, and for the 
furnishing of his Shippes, and he to deliver the same 
again to the merchands of Scptlande in the Towne of 
Deipe^. 

The Lordes maide aunswer herunto they coude not 
make hym any siche som of money : and said, if he 
wold remaigne with them to the suppleying of the 
warres, thay shulde ware with hym their bodies and 
goodes. 

Wherupon the same Duke having all the Lordes 
afore hym on Fridaye last paste tooke leve of theim 
and rode that night to Lithguo^: on Satturday to 
Stryveling, and there remaigned Sondaye, taking his 
leif of the King and Queue : and determined to be in 
Glasgue yesterdaye : and this Tewisday to Dimibre- 
tain, where as he wol take shippe if the wynde wol 
serve hym. 

Immediatly aftre he be entred ship, and sailed out 
of sight frome Dumbretajm, I am promised to be 
surely and diligently advertised therof ; and if there be 
any retome of hym your Grace shalbe certefied ac- 

• Efciu du SofeU. They were originally coined by Louis XI*. of Franoe. Their 
name was derived from the mintmark of a Sun. They were current in England, 
and probably in Scotland by weight. 

>> Dieppe. « Linlithgow. 



S46 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

cordingly, God willing, who preserve your Grace. At 
Whittinghom this last daye of May at iij. of the clok 
in the momyng. 

Yowrs to hyes* serves 

THOMAS DACBE. 

To my Lord Legats Grace. 



LETTER LXXXVI. 

Lord Dacre to Cardinal Wohey in cofitinuation of the 
former Letter. 

[m8. cotton, calig. b. II. foL 376. Orig,^ 



My Lord, pleas it your Grace to be ascerteyned, 
according to my former advertisements made unto 
your Grace of the Due of Albanies departure out of 
Scotland ; so it was at his said departure the Lordes 
of Scotland and he did not aggre verey well: for his 
intente and purpose was to have gone with a certdn 
nombre unto the Isle of Man, and had viteilled his 
shippes and made all other provisions for the same ac- 
cordingly. And whan it came to the poincte of his 
departing, all those that had promised to go with hym 
satt downe and refused the Jorney. Albeit of trouthe, 
the lordes of Scotland ar strately bounde and swome 
to stik still at the said Duks opynyon and tlie League 

•hii. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S47 

of France unto the laste daye of Auguste next coinj^ngf 
at which daye he hath promised to retome into Scot- 
land ; and, if he fale therof, he shalbe clerely ex- 
empted from all his auctoritie in Scotland. And I am 
surely enformed that the said Lordes of Scotland woU 
kepe their promisse to the said Due, and nothing do 
contrary the same for the tytne, except it be by force 
and compulsion. Albeit I am inUkewise enformed^ 
and verely truste, that if it so fortune that the said 
Due breke his promisse, and cum not again at his ap- 
poincted daye, the said Lordes and counseill of Scot- 
land woU not onely leave his wayes, and exclude hjrm 
clerely from all his auctoritie which he hath in Scot- 
land, but also semblably provide so that they may have 
peax with the Kings Highnes by their owne meanes ; 
and geve over all bands, leages, and promises that are 
confermed betwene theim and the Frenche King. 

Wherfore seyng that the said lords of Scotland woll 
make persuy te to the King's Highnes for peax or treux 
now in the Dues absence, without it be for a surceace 
of warre to be taken betwixt the wardeins upon the 
Bordors for a season, (which is only for their and the 
Duks commoditie,) right necessarie and requisite it is 
that the Kings Highnes and your Grace devise a sub- 
stanciall order what is beste to be done for their an- 
noyance now in the moste commodious tyme of the 
yere: for, according as I have declared unto your 
Grace in my former writings, it is but small exployt 



248 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

that I can do with the nombre of men that lie now 
here in garnyson, remembring how the Borders of 
Scotland have bene contynually destroyed sens the 
warres beganne. So that there is no rode that can be 
made upon the said Bordors with so small a nombre 
to the Kings honor. Howbeit I assure your Grace, 
for it that we might do, I have holden them in quik 
occupation, making of excourses contynually. And 
for proif that the frontors of the Bordors of Scotland 
ar in maner destroyed, now lately the viij^ day of this 
present monthe Sir William Evre lieutenant of the 
Middill Merchies, accumpanied with one thousand 
men and moo, made a Jomey into Scotland, and did 
verey well, and seased and brought awey above viij 9 
nowte^ with many horses and othr catall, as shepe, 
and gate to a great nombre, and miche insight, which 
I assure your Grace they did fetche xvj. myles within 
the grounde of Scotland. And in likewise my son, and 
my broder Sir Cristofer Dacre (accumpanied with a 
parte of the Weste marchies) the same tyme made an 
oder Jomey into Scotland, and there seased and gat 
nigh upon a thousand nowtc*, and miche oder catall, 
whiche they did fetche xx. myles within the grounde 
of Scotland. And so your Grace may perceive that 
it is litill that we can do but only kepe the Bordors 
from excourses, though the Kings Highnes be at grete 
charge ; seing that litill or nothinge is lefte upon the 



ORIGINAL LETTI5BS. 24^ 

frontors of Scotland without k be parte of aid * Howses 
wherof the thak ^ and covereings ar taken awey, bi- 
reason wherof they cannot be brint ^ as my lord Trea- 
surer can shew your Grace. And therefore under 
coirection of your Grace if it be the Kings pleasure 
and Yours (as I trust it is) that sharp warre be made 
upon Scotland, provision must be made for the same 
now in t)ane ; and not only the number of five or six 
thousand men to be putt in arredines as nighehande 
the Bordors as may be conveniently, to cum forward 
at diverse t)anes whan they shalbe called upon, for 
making of certen grete rodes ; and alwey, after a grete 
rode made to have wagies for that tyme only and to 
departe, and retome to an order as they shalbe called 
upon; but also ordinance and horses to drawe the 
same with all oder necessaries therunto belonging to 
be made redy accordingly. For surely to dryve the 
tyme as we do, leving in defense, and doing but small 
hurt to the Kings enemyes, it is nothing to the honor 
of his Highnes, and far lesse to his prouffite as your 
Grace may well perceive. And if the Kings Highnes 
and your Grace woll not take this ordre, or othr like 
ordre, for oppressing of the said Scotts, then (under 
your Grace'^s correction) best it is that a surcease of 
Werre be taken by the wardeins for a season, which 
I am sure the Lordes of Scotland woll specially dea- 
sire, because it is for their owne commoditie, and after 

» old. »» thatch. • burnt. 



250 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

that, I trust, the Chauncellare of Scotlande (with 
whome the Due hath left his hole auctoritie) wolde be 
contented to mete at the bordors any honorable per- 
son that the King's Highnes and your Grace wold 
appointe, for to common and speke of peax and trant- 
quillitie to be had betwene thes two realmes, where- 
unto he hath alwey allegied that he is right well affec- 
tionate and mynded. And if a surceace of werre 
were taken wherby that the bordors of Scotland might 
be plenisshed, and the estats of the realme gete prouf- 
fite (which they now lak), percaase they shuld fynde 
it so swete that they wold be wel advised or they brak 
again aithr for the pleasour of the Frenche King, the 
Due of Albany, or of any oder. As knoweth the Holy 
Trinite who preserve Your Grace. At Hexham the 
xj?* day of Junii. 

Yowrs with hys serves 

THOMAS DACRE. 



With this Letter we take our leave of the exploits of Thomas Lord 
Dacre. His death was announced to Wolsey in a Letter from Henry 
Clifibrd Earl of Cumberland, dated from the Castle of Skipton Nov. 14th 
1525, in the following words: '' It hath pleased Almighty God to call 
Lord Dacre to his mercy."a 

• MS. Cotton. Calig. B. vii. fol. 59. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S5l 



LETTER LXXXVII. 

King James the Fifth of Scotland to King Henry the 

Eighth, 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. III. foL 36 b. Orig^l 

*^* The promotion of Gawin Dunbar prior of WTiithem to the arch- 
bishopric of Glasgow, mentioned in this Letter, fixes its date to the year 
1524. The procuring of a papal bull for this promotion, was one of the 
last acts of the Duke of Albany's power. 

The following Account of King James the Fifth's person and manners, 
in this very year, transmitted to Wolsey by D'. Magnus and Roger Rad- 
clyfPthe then ambassadors to Scotland, will form no inappropriate introduc- 
tion to a specimen of his talent at writing. James the Fifth was then in his 
thirteenth year. The Letter is dated from Edinburgh Nov. 15^h 1524 : 

" Nowe all things precede more plesauntly thenne thay did afore, by 
reason of our poor suts moste humbly made to the queues Grace litle 
touching any matter for this tyme contrarious to her pleasure. Insomuch 
that the quenes saide grace hath had us forth to solace with the Kings Ghrace 
here at Leeth, and in the feildes, and to see his saide Grace stiire his 
horses, and renne with a spere amongys other his Lordes and servaunts at a 
gloove ; and also by the qUenes procuring we have seen his saide Grace 
use hjrmselfF otherwise pleasantely booth in singing and dansing, and 
shewing familiaritye amongs his lordes. All whiche his princely acts and 
doings be soe excellent for his age, not yet xiij. yeres till Easter next, that 
in our opynyons it is not possible thay shulde be amended. And myche 
more it is to our comforte to see and conceive that in personage, favor, 
and countenance, and in all other his procedings his Grace resembleth 
very myche to the Kings Highnes our maister. And over this his said 
Grace hath with the moste pleasaunte and moste loving countenaunce 
shewed unto us both that myche it pleaseth his Grace to see and here of 
the good manners of Englande, and myche it displeaseth hym to see his sub- 
jects to exercise or use the facions and manners of Fraunce. And we, being 
present, sawe and herde his saide Grace reprove one of his owne servaunts 
for the same cause." ^ 



Derrest vncle We recommend vs to zow in our 
mayst hartly maner, and hais rasavit zour wrytyngs 



■ MS. Cotton. Calig. B. vi. foL 833. 



^2 ORIGINAL LKTTEES. 

be zour trast counsellor maister Magnus, and by the 
sammyn wrytyngs and als' hys credens. We vnder- 
stand the perfyt loyf ^ ze beyr on to vs, quhayrfor we 
sal stand to zow as ane troyst and goud newo ^ suld do. 
Derrest Oncle we pray zow hartly ze be not be zour 
wrytyngs to the Paypis halynes aganys the archeby- 
schop of Glasgw, the quhylk was our preceptor and 
servitor, and als ramanis daly on our parson, bott o^. 
rar.® support, and help hym anet' the preveleg' of hys 
kyrk of Glasgw for my sayk. Howbeyt the archeby- 
shop of Sanctandros wyl wryt and hays wryt)^ to zo' 
grace aganys hys exempcion, for I loyf Glasgw quhylk 
is my servand bettyr, a& wyl schaw M. Magnus ; and 
God haue zo*^ grace in hys kepyng. At Edynburgh 
the xxviij. day of May, w* my awyn hand 

Zo' Nepho 

JAM£S R. 



LETTER LXXXVIII. 

Sir TTiomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, a. d. 15S4. 

[MS. COTTON. OALBA B. VIII. fol. 132, Ortg.^ 

*^* The dialogue which Sir Thomas More details in this Letter, be- 
tween King Henry the Eighth and himself, is highly characteristic. John 
Joachim, mentioned in it, was Giovanni Joacchino Pessano, a Genoese ; 
afterwards called Seigneur de Vaux. He was originally a merchant whom 

» love. * nephew. « or rather? 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 253 

Francis the first selected, when in-the camp before Pavia, to come to Eng. 
land to negotiate a Peace. See Singer's edition of Cavendish's Life of 
Wolsey, p. 73. But the most curious part of this Letter is probably that 
in which Wolsey's opinion is declared upon the passing of Mount Ccnis by 
Francis the First, and his operations in the Milanese. 



Hit may lyke your good Grace to be advertised that 
yistemyght at my cummyng un to the Kings Graces 
presence, after that I had made your Graces recom- 
mendations and his Highnes shewed hym selfe very 
greatly glad and joyful! of your Graces helthe, as I was 
abowte to declare ferther to his Grace what lettres I 
had brought, his Highnes, perceiving Lettres in my 
hand, prevented me ere I could bygyn, and saied " Ah 
" ye have lettres nowe by John Joach3naa, and I trow 
" sum resolution what they will do.*" " Nay veryly Sir"" 
quoth I " My lord hath yit no word by John Joachim 
" nor John Joachim as far as my Lord knew had yit no 
" worde hym selfe this day in the momyng whan I 
" departed from his Grace.^ " No had"" quoth he, 
" I mych mervaile therof, for John Joachim had a ser- 
" vaunt come to hym two dayes agoo." " Sir,'' quoth 
I, " if hit lyke your Grace, this momyng my Lords 
" Grace had no thing herd therof; for yisterday his 
" Grace at after none dispeched me to your Grace with 
" a Lettre sent from M' Doctor Knyght, and the same 
" nyght late, his Grace sent a servaunt of his to myn 
" howse and commaunded me to be with his Grace this 
" momyng by eight of the clokke, where at my cum- 



254 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

*' myng he delivered me these other lettres and adver- 
" tisements sent un to h)an fro M^ Pace commanding 
" me that after that your Highnes had scene theym I 
" shold remitte theym to h)an with diligence, as well 
" for that he wold shew the3naa to other of your Graces 
^^ counsaile, as also to John Joach}rm, for the contents 
** be such as will do hym litle pleasure." '^ Mary" 
quoth his Grace " I am well a paied therof," and so 
he fell in meryly to the redyng of the Lettres of Mais- 
ter Pace, and all the other abstracts and wrytyngs 
wherof the contents as highly contented hym as eny 
tidings that I have sene cum to h3nn ; and thanked your 
Grace moost hartely for your good and spedy adver- 
tisement ; and furthwithe he declared the newes and 
every materiall point which vppon the reding his Grace 
well noted un to the Quenys Grace and all other abowt 
hym, who were mervelouse glad to here it. Ai^d the 
Quenys Grace saied that she was glad that the Span- 
yerds had yit done somwhat \n Italy in recompence erf 
their departure owt of Province. I shewed his High- 
ties that your Grace thought that the French King 
passed the mountaignys in hope to wynne all with a 
visage in Italy, and to fynd there no resistence : and 
his sodayn cummyng uppon mych abashed the cun- 
trees, putting eche quarter in dowt of other and owt 
of suertie who myght be well trusted ; but now sith he 
fyndeth it otherwise, myssyng the helpe of money 
which he hoped to have had in Mylleyn ; {yndyng his 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S55 

enemyes strong, and the fortressis well manned and 
fumyshed ; and at Pavia, by thVxpugnatio|i wherof 
he thought to put all the remanant in fere and drede, 
being now twyes rejected w* losse and reproche, his 
estimation shall so decay, and his friends fail, his ene- 
myes confenned and encoraged, namely such aide of 
th'AImaignes of new joynyng with theym that lyke as 
the French King byfore wrote and bosted un to his 
mother that he had of his awne m}md passed in to 
Italy, so is it lykly that she shall have shortly cause to 
wryte agayn to hym that it had be mych bettre and 
more wisedome for hym to abide at home than to put 
hym selfe^ there, where as he standeth in great parell 
whither ever he shall gete thense. The King^s Grace 
lawghed and said that he thinketh it wilbe very hard 
for hym to gete thense. And that he thinketh the ma- 
ters going thus, the Popis Holjmes will not be hasty 
neither in Peace nor Treuix. 

Uppon the redjmg of M*^ Knyghts lettre his Grace 
saied not mych, but that if Bewreyn cum to his Grace 
he wilbe playne with hym. And if he do not, but take 
his Dispache there of your Grace, which thyng I per- 
ceive his Highnes wold be well content he did, excepte 
he desire to cum to his presence, his Grace requy- 
reth yours so to talke with h3naa as he may know that 
his Grace and yours well parceive how the maters be 
handeled by themperors agents in th'enterprice. 

The Kings Grace is very glad that the maters of 



956 OKIGINAL LETTERS. 

Scotland be in so good trayne, and wold be loth that 
they were now ruffled by th'*erle of Angwishe. And 
mych his Highnes alloweth the mooste prudent m3mde 
of your Grace, myndyng to use th''erle of Angwish for 
an instrument to wryng and wreste the maters in to 
bettre trayne if they walke a wrye and not to wrestle 
with theym and breke theym whan they goo right. 

Hit may lyke your Grace also tp be advertisede that 
I moved his Grace concemyng the suit of M^ Broke 
in such wise as your Grace declared un to me your 
pleasure when M'. Broke and I were with your Grace 
on Soneday. And his Grace answered me that he 
wold take a breth therin, and that he wold fyrst onys 
speke with the yong man; and than his Grace de- 
parted. But I perceived by his Grace that he had taken 
the yong mannys promise not to marry without his ad- 
vise, bycause his Grace entended to mary hjrm to some 
one of the Queny's maidens. Iff it wold lyke your 
good Grace, in eny lettre which it shold please your 
Grace here after to write hither, to make some men- 
tion and rememberance of that mater, I trust it wold 
take good effecte. And thus our Lord long preserve 
your good Grace in honor and helth. At Hertford 
the xxix^^ day of Novembre. 

Your Gracis humble orator and 
moost bounden beedman 

THOMAS MORE. 
'^ To my Lord Legatts good 
Grace." 



OEIGINAL LETTERS. 257 



LETTER LXXXIX. 

The Archduke Ferdinand qf Attstria to King Henry 

the Eighth anmyundng the Victory ofPavia. a. d. 

1525. 

[ms. cotton, galba b. VIII. fol. 139 b. Or%gJ\ 

*^* Ferdinand of Austria, the writer of the following Letter, was the 
\)rother of Charles the Fifth. He had been so far favoured by Henry as 
to be admitted into the Order of the Garter in 1622. In 1527, he was 
elected King of Hungary and Bohemia, the former of which Kingdoms was 
afterwards in part wrested from him. In 1531 he was chosen Bang of the 
Romans; and succeeded his brother in the Empire in 1556. 



Seeenissime Princeps et Rex, domine et avun- 
cule noster colendissime, salutem et commendationem. 
Significamus Serenitati vestrae quatenus die 24 Mensis, 
hora 18 moris Italiae^ in loco Sancti Angeli prope 
Papiam factus est Conflictus inter exercitus Caesareae 
Majestatis domini et fratris nostri colendissimi, et Re- 
gis Franciae, adeo ut omnipotentis Dei auxilio et de- 
mentia Victoria Caesareae Majestatis fuit, et Rex Fran- 
ciae fuit captus a domino de La Noia magistro Domus 

• The mos /to/t« here mentioned as to the hour of the battle, deserves a short com- 
ment. The commencement of the civil or calendar day differs with different nations. 
We. and most Europeans, b^n it at midnight; so did the ancient Egyptians, and 
the Romans after Julius Caesar. Before Caesar's time the Romans reckoned their 
day from sun-set, as the Italians do at present, with the Jews, the Chinese, the Ara- 
bians* the Athenians, the ancient Germans, the Galli and the present Bohemians. 
The Babylonians, Syrians, Pernans, and most of the Oriental nations, the modem 
Greeks, and the inhabitants of the Balearic Islan4s, make the morning or sun-rise the 
beginning of their day. Astronomers commence it from noon. So did the ancient 
Umbrians. 

To reduce the Italian hours with accuracy to our calculation, it is necessary to 
know the length of the natural day at the particular season. The battle of Pavia 
took place on the 24^. of February ; and the eighteenth hour would probably cor- 
respond with about eleven o'clock before noon of our reckoning. 

VOL. I. S 



258 ORIGINAL LETTEB9. 

domini de Borbon, et interfecta fuerunt ad quatu(»rde- 
cim millia Gallorum, ut latius Serenitas vestra a mu- 
neris latere intelliget, quae bona nova Serenitati vestne 
significanda duximus, et agimus gratias omnipotenti 
Deo; Serenitatemquevestrambenevalere optamusuDat. 
Innsprughe die 26 Februarii, 1525, 



Professor Robertson has devoted a few sentenoes of his Reign of Charles 
the Fifth, to the eifecte of the Victory at Pavia on Henry the Eighth. 
The capricious Henry, fiK)m views of self. advantage, had rendered great 
assistance to Charleses ambition; never dreaming of any event so decisive 
or so fatal as that memorable battle, which while it annihilated the power of 
Francis, destroyed the proper balance of the States of Europe; a balance 
to which, at that time, England owed much of her importance, and Italy 
the whole of her security. 

John Clerc, bishop of Bath and Wells, the English minister at Rome, 
upon the ficst news of this battle, before he had veoeived details, wrote hn. 
mediatdy to Wolsey. Though his letter must have arrived much later 
than the official despatch of Ferdinand. It is dated from Rome, Feb. 
28^.* He speaJLB of the ^' conflict between the Smperar*f camp and the 
French Kings, and how that, lauded be God, the victory remained on the 
Emperor*s side,^ which he only knew he says, ^' by sundrye letters telling 
sundry tales, as wryten by men being rather in oonftnion, sad m tone 
trouble themselves, than having any great leisure to write.*' Much of 
the remainder of his letter is filled with details of the eSbdt of this battle 
upon Italy. '' I assure your Grace that ther be manyehem right gW of 
the French mennys overthrowe, but on the other syde they be all right 
sorry to be left thus in prey of the Span3rard8, people surdy fbr their croell 
demeanor most hatyd of all nations ; and by cause the only stay and brydeQ 
of their insolence is nowe notyd to be in the Kyngs hands, your Grace wil 
not beleve what an eirpectation is here of his Highnea, in wlmme nowe is 
an their hope and comfort. And surelye if they dyd nott hope verdye that 
the Kings Highnea, by hia wiss and poUytyke handelyng, ihe Spanjaid 
ahold somewhatbe atayd, the powarsof Italy, with the Pope, wddnott&yfl 
but gather themselves and do as wdl as they could for ^ir defence tyll 
God shold otherwise provyde." 

In a postscript he adds '^ We have word aasuryd that the fWnahe Kyng 
is takyn, and with hym aninfynytenomber ofFall hisnobiKtie, and amoQgft 

• MS. Cotton. VlteU. B. tii. foi. ««. 



^eifm the Kfrng nf Navat^ wA U Ra«A bUo^ as I trov £)djnug4 d^ 1» 
Pole his hrotha, wbooi <lfcey c^ Kwg <9f Soo«« fw to W^ up tjie Tpy- 
nite of Kings Ukyn in diis fyld to their gise^t glQry% Th^ .i$ ^li^ ll)^ 
0E8Dd MMtne, th' Admiral, Ln Tmmoy iA Palfrce, Daubony, De laig^n, 
«Dd many mo of his nobles; tnd none ofl^ii fioJ^lf* i^ a jufuw^ but otibor 
takyn, or slayn, or dro wnyd. The Fienfihe ICyng VBS iakyn in iygbt ismxfi 
myles from the place where his campe was. He is now in the castell of 
Cremona. He yelded himself to the Emperor, and was taken by the Vice* 
roy." 

Sir John Russell in a Letter from Milan of the 11th. of March, says 
" The Spaniardes, after the battle wonne, pursuyd and chased the Frenshe- 
men almost a hundreth mylm, kUliiigeni il^giilng them without mercL*"> 

D' Magnus writing to Wolsey from Edinburgh, March Slst. 1625, re- 
i0|^li|»e«(9eptw}d«^iav«4«MAt7ayift^^O9l^fS|B9^ He 

8a3rs ^^ Comiiijg t^ tl^e presajiC^ of the ^in^ af^d the Qu^^ Grace at S^. 
John's town, after most «ondigne salutation, I diew£d in familiar manner 
the newes touching thp overthrow of the French Kin^ and of all his anhy 
in Italy, and how the said King and the King of Navarre, with sundry 
•Qik^ ^mem mi * gl^ «umb«r of .•tto 9^t» And gceat liordi of 
Jma&i wf^ ^^ pn^Qpers, ^814^ «npth^ I7«imb^ of them slayn in the 
Sell, aad (ib^fliA 4)# m&i^ m V^^^ asper^^infi^ tom» fsom M'» iBri#i 
Ty^, basi4c!B 0^ « gr^te number pf the ^^o^^aopalty both ^h^ aj^ t^kgn 
ffwmers. WWt^e rnvm, A^lb^U «oji^ notice oi th$ 8am« were 1^ »fo^e 
wii^ U«pbt i99^Sfm,Mmi^ fi^Vy te ^ Jqiowi«dge f^f the.heren ifi maa^r 
U • 4tog IM)t pai^ii^ fUiwh^ ^ (q#t;|i^r bvBtter. dusted undreinj^. 
tim^ Hmi» worn vig]iit#oryi iflpif c^th ^ copteyne, biit bacpste forth 
iMm ifmKt^eKw4^iiogimm^i jiiB44^Q»e8#d|h^itheKii^pf£i^^U^ 
jQte jiitlte dt borne n^d^dins^ ^ jKJ^ of Fr«D^ to be y^mquish^ w^ 8^- 
dued by his owne subjecte. I assure your Grace this ;i^9^ » higUf 
estemed in these parties, and mjche dolor made by many that suppose they 
have lost their friends and kynnesfolkes. The young King was desirous to 
Iteic the cevtafaitie of diis nader, but the Qveen's Qta^e nad* aoe maner 
dgip»^^ j^cT^f, #ieit^^ skc gave my cong]»tulation for the«june as far as 
I could conceive, or in any wise in truth come to my knowledge.^* 

ilip fUlQlJMr paiM^ <Qf Hm M^r ;i^e |#yf ^ Qhapp^Por f|94 |h«<>9|K9. 
ci} of Sopfland con^ifkr^d it differently.: 

*^ Hit Is not to t>e doubted but the liOrds and Noblemen of this Readme 

ceive for tjbe losse of their friendes and J^yjinesfolkes. Apd yet the ^d 

* The ICiAg of Navarre* however^ afterwards madejiis escape: and Richard De ]a 

of Blanche Rose was among the slain upon the field. 
>> MS. Cotton* Vite}l. B. vii. fol. «o. 

S2 



260 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

ChaaDGdar taketh the mader very ligfady, saying he hath no care of 
Fiance, for Scotkmd in defence of die same have lost sundry dieir Kings 
vidi great n<nnbre of their noble men to the distrucdon df their leafan. 
And diis oppynyon he saith that bodi he and the whole Coanaaill hen do 
kepe widiout feynnjmg or dissimulation, thair honors saved for the dis- 
diarging of their bandes and promises.** & 



LETTER XC. 



ly. Sampson to Cardinal Wolsey^ on the neivs of the 

Victory qfPavia reaching Madrid. 

[ms. cotton. VE8P. c. III. foL 19. Orig,'\ 

*^* Tlie reader will not now be displeased to have the conversation laid 
before him which passed between Charles the Fifth and the English am- 
bassador at Madrid, upon the arrival of the news that Francis the First 
was taken prisoner. The moderation with which Charles heard of the sue* 
cess that had crowned his arms, was, for a short time the theme of univer- 
sal admiration. Whether he felt or only assumed the virtue at first, seems 
problematical. One thing is certain ; prosperity soon got the better of his 
mind. He laid aside his generosity at the time he lost his humility ; and 
became as ambitious of conquest as any of those who had aimed at univer- 
sal empire. The world has agreed to take him, young as he was, for a pro^ 
found hypocrite. 



Pleas it your Grace the x. day off Marche be a 
currier, that passyd throw France be the Frence Elings 
salve conduict, com first the newis hithir that uppon 
Seynct Mathies day at Pavie anno 1524^ the Frenche 
King was taken prisoimer, with many othir noble men 
takyn and slayne. The sam day was th'emperor 
borne, etjam complevitocxv. I was the sam night with 

• MS. Cotton. Califj. B. V". fol. 3. >>.\VIA-i, 



ORIGINAL LETTKRS. ^1 

his Majestic ut maxime gratidarer huic insperatcejelu 
citati. And afftir that I had spokyn not with many 
words, for as I seyd the newis ware of so great ex- 
eellentie and joy os well to his Majestie os to his frends 
and all christyndom, that in no maner of wyse it was 
in me to expresse be words the worthy joyfullnesse 
and excellentie off it; with othir words os my litle dis- 
cretion wold serve. AfFtir that I had seyd. His Ma- 
jestie fyrst aunsword that withowght fayle the newis 
ware very good and joyffuU, and so his ver)i hope was 
that such effect schuld folow with Godds helpe to his 
frends and all Christyndom. And iij. things causyd 
hym to have joy off this Victorie. Fyrst that it hath 
pleasyd God to gyve such a rare and singulier gylft to 
hym, and theroffmost humbly he thankyd God; for 
he a synnar off this worlde nevyr hath or schall [or] 
may deserve such a singulier goodnesse oft* God. Ne- 
virthelesse trusting off^ the same goodnesse off^ God at 
all tyms to be his ledar and eydarj he intendith to em- 
ploy his strenith and power that he hath receyvid off 
God in this worlde with most afffection off mynde and 
diligence wher as he schall l)eleve to be his most plea- 
sour and service. And this i& the seconde thing that 
causith hym to be joyfuU off this victorie, trusting that 
be the sam such a sure and universell peace schall fo- 
low to all christyndom that schall not oonly be to the 
quietnesse off the sam, and establissching off chari- 
table love, wherwith God may be most pleasyd, but 



90S OEIttlKAL L£TT£KS* 

also he with his frends be the T&uxm of such imtttfaBd' 
acoorde sohdll may employ ther temparaU forcisy a» 
well to the defence and augmentation of Chridtis feiik 
agenst the enemies off the sAm oi to the noodiMttie 
reformation off the sam body off Chriitis feith, !»• 
pressing the abominable errors and ordering tbe othii^ 
great inconvenients. And here Hi^ Majeitie sayd^ 
thitt he trusteth now ther sohalbe som good ogomod 
and oportunite that the King''^ Highnesse tod he td^ 
gethirs may employ ther trayaylesi and pomrs in the 
service of Ood. Thridly His Maj^tie seyd thai this 
Victorie was joyffull to hym, tarn amicorwn jruairl 
mimicorwrti cau^. For he wold assurydly enderof 
hymsellff that this yictorie might be to thfeprDfbtto off 
his frcnds rather then his own, Sar he assuryd me thaC 
he was nothing ombitios off more then he hath. And 
with humble words thanking Qod^ he seyd that hi« 
dayly preyre is to have grace gcvyn hym well to go* 
verne and ordre such possessions os he hath. And At 
towching his enemies they schall well pefceyre thtt 
thow he schall have place, tym, and with Oodds hotptf 
puissance to revenge hym, yet knowleging all to be df 
Godd's hande and pleasour, his inynde is to Use such 
moderation that in hym ther ischalbe fowhde no intent 
off crueltie or revengance. These vertuousc and sin^ 
gulier wyse wwds His Majestieusyd with such agraeft 
in the speking off them, that, wlthowght feyle StlT) to 
here and perceyve in such a rare and excellente yi(^ 



OEIOiKAL L£TT£RS. SC^ 

torie, his moderacion off gesture, cowntenance, and os 
it semyd allso off inwarde intente and mynde, thow 
diat I was no lesse gladde of the victorie then many 
othir, yet much more gladde I was to percey ve the 
Tictorie in his ha;nds that had the grace off such tem< 
porance and moderation; and so expressely I seyd to 
his Majestie. For I assure your Grace ther was no 
m<»*e semblance in hym of arrogantie or change off 
maniers to joy effusely owthir in worde or counte- 
nance then iff no such great thing had chaunsyd ; but 
evyr in his words with humble visage referryd every 
thing to God, so thanking hym ffor the sam. Wher- 
ffor I compared His Majestie to hym that hath re- 
<»y vid a great benefite off a nothir, that iff the gevar 
perceive much gratuite in the recey var, he schall induce 
the gevar with much more desyre iff such occasion 
chaunce anothir tym to gyve hym a much greatar 
gjrfft, especially iff the receyvar also use such a gyflft to 
the most pleasour off the gevar. And so his Majestie 
both knowleging with so good mynde this gyfft off 
victorie to have recey vid off God so well thanking hym 
ffor the sam, and allso intending to use the sam great 
and inestimable gyfft with such moderation to the most 
pleasour off the gevar, schall induce allmighty God of 
his goodnesse a nothir tym to gyve hym a much greater 
gyfft. His Majestie aunsword beseching God that he 
myght use it to his most pleasor. With thies, Sir, 
and dyvers othir good words in so great a thing to 



264 OEIGIKAL LSTTEttS. 

have such singuler moderadcm, nulhjastu^ nuUa flr- 
rogcmtia, miUaprorsus effusa ah indecenti leticia^ cmt 
vuUu, autgestUf aut verbo aliquoj I think myselff more 
to have lemid, and much bettjn* at all tymes to have 
moderation present and in good remembrance, then 
be all the lettirs, words, or bokis that evyr I have or 
i^hall rede. And not oonly he declaryd his moderate 
mynde be thes words to me, but well he schewid the 
same in all othir his demeanor now. For be oon off 
his pryvie chambre, and anothir great personage off 
singulier feith and credence, I know that immediatly 
afftir the fyrst knowlege off thes newis, sole he enteryd 
in to his pryvie chambre, and ther was a good space 
uppon his kneys, withought fayle geving thankis to 
God. And where os he was advyssid be som to make 
great triumphe ffor this victorie, expressly he com* 
mandyd that no such thing schuld be, syns it was 
agenst christyn men. But syns it hath ben Grodds 
pleasor to gyve hym such a victorie, the next day with 
a generall procession he wold gyve oonly thankis to 
hym. The next day the generall procession off all the 
towne went to a chapell of our Lady, oon quartier of 
"a myle withowght the towne, and thether went th^Em- 
peror yn a cape of blakke frese withowght ony more 
semblance off triumphe. And at his departing owght 
off his chambre thithirwards, he seyd thes words, 
" now schall we goo to have a solempne Messe, giv- 
" ing tliankis to God; and I wold that we schuld make 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 265 

" it much more solempne with good inwarde devotion 
" then with ony maner off owghtwarde pompe.''^ 

At this Messe a frier prechid uppon thes words 
" taudarnini nomen Dei vestri^quiajecit nobiscummu 
rabilia.'" And ffor the fyrst great marveyle in this 
worlde most to be estemyd, he beganne with the con- 
ception and incarnation off Christe; so passing to cer- 
teine marvelos victories off the Old Testamente; and 
for a conclusion estemyd this Victorie ffor no lesse 
marveyle. 

Withowght ffayle, Sir, the lord chauncelier schowed 
me that in th''Emperors campe was no money; they 
dyede for hungre; the souldiers had no clothis; they 
ware in such extreme necessite that it was not possible 
to abyde it longar. And the sam night the Frenche 
King was advertyssed that th''Emperors campe was in 
armis the sam night to leve the fylde; wherffor the 
Frenche Kings campe was allso in armis to pursuye 
them in the wey, so that when they saw them entre 
with such a boldnesse whom they thowght to pursuy ve 
flying, it was a great change, and no lesse marvayle. 
But it is writtin that the Marquise of Piskera fyrst 
gave this advyse, the which was well acceptyd off the 
Viceroy and Mons'l de Burbon, as they had extreme 
cause rathir to hasarde ther lyvis then to leve the 
Frenche King so victorios to ther utter ondoing. The 
great Mastre, who I beleve is os feithffuUy desyros to 
doo most acceptable pleasor and service to the Kings 



366 ORIGINAL LSTT£ES. 

Higfanesse as ony straungier els lyvingy sdiewed me 
that som advysed th^Emperor the next daj to were 
some riche and fresche rayement ffor the demonstra- 
tion off joy to his people. He sayd that in no man- 
ner off wyse he wold so doo, but iff he knew in what 
maner most humbly to demeane hym selff to gyve 
thankis to God, and to induce the people to the sam, 
withowght demonstration off pompe or immodarate 
joy, he wold folow that wey and means. 

The next day afftir the procession, be cause the 
precher wold not sey it in his presence, the sam 
precher seyd in a nothir place where he prediid, that 
th'Emperor commandyd hym the day before to preche 
off this Victorie, referring every thing to the power 
and goodnesse off God, expressely charging that now- 
thir he schuld speke off ony preyse towching th^£m- 
peror nor in eny maner off wyse off rej^oche agenst 
his enemie. 

In summa, the Emperor hath usyd such demeanor 
in all maner off thingis, both be worde, deade, and 
cowntenance, and towards all maner off persons, that 
every wyse man hath ben most joyffuU to see it magna 
aim admircUione in cetate tarn tenercu 

And Sir amongs othir many good words to me, he 
forgatt not to schew me off the singulier love that he 
hath fownde in the King'^s Highnesse, and evir trusts 
ith to fynde the sam. And in lyke maner the Kings 
Highnesse sehall assiirydly at all tyms know hym off 



omclXAL LETTXI154 S67 

the sam feitbffuU mytide nevyt to fayle, o« at a]I tyms 
he hath els promysid and seyd. His Majestie is allso 
very desyfos to know from the King'^s Highnesse aff- 
tir this Victorie, os knowith our Lord, who preserve 
your Grace in most prosperos helth and honor. At 
Madryd the xv. day off Marche. 

Your most humble bedemati 

BICHA&D 8AMFSOH. 

To my Lorile Legate. 



LETTER XCI. 

Henri/ Duke of Richmond, natural son of K, Henry 
VII pf^ to Cardinal WoUey. 

I MS. COTTON. VESP. F. III. foL 18 b. Ortg".] 

*«* Prom this Letter we ledfn one fact which is not dironided the* 
where, that Cardinal Wolsey stood godfathear to the acknowledged natural 
son of Henry the Eighth. 

Henry, for so the King chose he should be named, was bom in 1519 $ 
according to Safidford at Blkckmore in Essex^ . His mother, then lady 
l^lizabeth Tailboys, was afterwards married to Edward I^rd Clinton. 
HaU describes her aS a fair damsel, who ke^t Henry in the chains of lote 
as much by her accomplislanents as by her boauty. Tho child, he 8a3ri, 
partook of both their beauties. 

For want of male issue in the earlltt and middle part of his i^eign, th^ 
affections of Henry the Eighth were strongly fixed upon this boy : he was 
brought up, to use the words of HaU, like a Princess child, chiefiy at Wind- 
sor; whdre the companion of his education from his first infancy wat 
the accomplished Earl of Surrey. In 1625, when little more than six years 
old, the King made him a knight of the Garter, and called him Lo&d 
Henry Fitzro y ; creating him, on the 18*. of Junein that year. Earl of 
Nottingham, and Duka of Richmond and Somerset: Wolsey at the same 

* Sandf. Genealog. Hist, ex CoU. Gl. S. 



S68 ORIGINAL LETTKBS. 

time establishing for him a Hoiudiold suitable to hisiank •• In 1532, still 
accompanied by Lord Surrey, he went to Paris to finish his studies; and 
joined Henry and Francis the First, that year, at thdr second Interview. 
I'pon his return he obtained the King's consent to mairy Surrey's sistCE. 

From this time we hear little more of him, except that he, with the 
Duke of Suffolk, Cromwell, and Sir Thomas Audeley, were upon the scaf- 
fold when Anne Bole3m was beheaded. 

He died at S^ James's, according to Holioshed July 22<*, according to 
others on the 24<^ of July, 1536; when he had scarcely attained die ageof 
seventeen. He left no issue^. 

It may not be irrelevant to remark, that the creation of the Duke of 
Richmond and Somerset by Henry the Eighth, evidently formed the pre> 
cedent for Charles the Second to crowd the highest rank of the peerage 
writh his natural children. Henry, however, never thought of mulritig his 
mistresses Duchesses. Thesumame of Fitzroy was first given by Ku^ 
John to Geofirey his second natural son*^. 



Pleas yt youre Grace to bee advertised that at thys 
tyme I do write unto the same not oonly to make a 
demonstracion off thys my proceding in writinge, but 
also in my right humble and lowly wise to beseche 
youre Grace off youre dayly blissynge and pardone, 
for that I have soo longe tyme delayed and forborne 
to write unto youre Grace, to whos favoure and good- 
nes no creature living ys more bounde thene I am. 
And like as it hathe pleased almightie God and the 
Kings Highnes, moche parte by the meanes and good 
favoure off youre Grace, to preferre and advance me in 
honor, so shal I (God willinge) endevor my selffe and 
applie my tyme for th'attaynyng and encreas off lem- 
ynge, vertue, and cunninge, correspondente to the 

• The details will be found in MS. Harl. 589. fol. 192. 

^ See Lord Herbert, p. 1T5. DugA, Baron, torn. U. p. 805. Hall, edit. 1809. p. Tlfl* 
Holinsh. edit. 1808. vol.iii. p. 798. 

• Sec Sandford Gcnealog. Hist. p. 86. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 269 

same, wherby I may be more able to do unto the 
Kingis highnes suche service hereafter as shal con- 
siste with his mooste gracious pleasure, wiche off all 
thyng under God, is and shalbe my oonly myende, 
entent, and purpoos; as maistir Magnus thys berer. 
Director off my Counsaill shall make relacion unto 
youre grace, whome Almightie God evermore have 
in his mooste hoolie and blissid tuycion and govern- 
ance. At Shireff Hut ton the fourthe daye off Marche 
by youre moste humble Godsonne. 

H. RYCHEMOND. 



LETTER XCII. 

King Henry tfie Eighth to Cardvnal Wclsey, 
[ms. cotton, vesp. r. xiii. foL 71. Orig,\ 



Myne awne good Cardinall, I recomande me unto 
you with all my hart, and thanke yow for the grette 
payne and labour that yow do dayly take in my bysy- 
nes and maters, desjrryng yow (that wen yow have well 
establyshyd them) to take summe pastjrme and com- 
fort, to the intent yow may the longer endure to serve 
us; for allways payne can nott be mduryd. Surly yow 
have so substancyally orderyd oure maters bothe off 
thys syde the See and byonde that in myne oppynyon 
lityll or nothyng can be addyd; nevertheles, accord- 



S70 ' OHIGI^^iL L£TT£BS* 

yng to your deByre, I do send yoir myne oppynyoabjr 
tfays berar, the refformadon wheieoff I do remytte to 
yow and the remiumte off our trusty consellen, whyd)e 
I am sure wyll suhstantyally loke oa hyt. Ai tochyng 
the mater that Syr Wyllyam 6ay» brogJit umwta oS^ 
I am well contentyd with what orier no ever yow dp 
taiie in itt. The Qumt tny wyff hath d^yryd vm to 
make har most harty reoommendatSona to yow, m to 
hym that she lovethe very weU, and boA Ae and X 
wolde knowe fayne when yow wyll wpaeyf^ to ua- Np 
more to yow att thys tyme hot that with Gk)d''s helpe 
I trust we shall dysspoynte oure enymys off theyre in- 
tendyd purpose. Wryttyn with the hand of your lov- 
yng master 

HEXBY, R. 

To 

My Lorde Cardinall. 



LETTEB XCIII, 

The CotmcU^^ the Househoid qfike Ijuiaf Mwy to 

Cardinal Woh^y. 

{ys. corroir. vfj«y. r- iMif,fi^ IH Or^\ 

jmerriipent which formerly ma4£ Christmas so cheerful to our ancestoro. 
It was in 1525, in the Vf^ year of Hemy th^ Eightii, that Cardfoal 
W#b^, Mthe wqpw tiiBe fh^ h^ ^tfcdbll^be^ » bywaehqld £br the yout^ 
puke of Richmond, '' ordaiaed a Council" says Hall, '' and stafolished 
another Hoaaehold for the Lasmt M ARY,^Sien beingPrmetfM^^ BtglfmP 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. Tfl 

The cireumstanoe of the Council's ihquiring what they were to do, seems 
to fix the date of the lietter, at once, to the very year in which the House, 
hold was established. 



Please it youre grace for the great repaire of straun* 
gers supposed unto the Pryncesse honorable house- 
holde this solempne fast of Cristmas, We humbly 
beseche the same to let us knowe youre gracious 
pleasure concemyng aswell a ship of silver for the 
almes disshe requysite for her high estate, and spice 
plats, as also for trumpetts and a rebek to be sent, and 
whither we shall appoynte any Lord of Mysrule for the 
said honorable householde, provide for enterluds, di»- 
gyeyngs, or pleyes in the said feat, or for banket o» 
twelf nyght. And in likewise whither the Pryncesse 
shall sende any newe yeres gifts to the Kiogie, the 
Quene, your Grace, and the Frensshe quene, and of 
the value and devise of the sajne. Besechyng youre 
grace also to pardon oure busy and importunate suts 
to the same in suche behalf made. Thus oure right 
syngler good lorde We pray the holy Trynyte have 
ymi in his holy preservacion. At Teoxbury the xxvij 
day of November 

Youre humble orators 

JOHN EXON. 



To the most reverent Father JJEILES gsevile 

in God the Lord Cardixudl 
his fsood Grace. 



PETEE BtTRNELL. 
JOHN $AXT£&. 
G. BEOMLET. 
THOMAS AUDELEY. 



272 OllIGlXAL LETTERS. 

No record is preitcrved of the answer which was returned to this Letter; 
but that the Cardinal allowed the sports of Christmas to be played is mote 
than probable. A Book of the Expcnces of the Lady Mary*s Housdudd 
in various years from the 28'h. to the 3(>th. of Henry the Eighth is still 
remaining among the Royal Manuscripts in the British Museum; a few 
entries in which bear upon the question. 

In the 28th. of Henry Vlllth. 

*'^ Mens. Deccmb. Delivered at Richemount to my Lady^s Grace 
for playeng at the Cards, vj. Angels:** amounting to xlv. shillings. 

*•*" Item given to the Children of the Chapell on Cristmas Day^ xi' 

*'*' Item, delyvered to hir Ghrace upon Cristmas Even and Cristmas 
Daye for to have in her purse iiijii . 

" Item geven to my Lady's Ghrace for a m3mstrell v* 

" Item geven to my Lord Privey Scale's servaunte;" here the lady 
Mary has added in her own hand " for bryngyng hys newyer's gift, iij 
Angeles." 

Of New Years Gifts, none are specified which were sent by the Lady 
Mary ; but only those which were presented to her. The following occur 
in the 34th. of Henry the Eighth: a little tablet of gold from the Prince; 
a little chain, and a pair of hose wrought in gold and silk from the Prin- 
cess Elizabeth; a gown of carnation satin of the Venice fashion, from my 
Lady Margaret; a wrought smock from Lady Frances Dorset; a pepper 
box of silver gilt, from Lady Butler ; a book from Lord Morley ; a diamond 
ring from the Earl of Hertford; a fair steel glass from three Venetians; a 
hat from D^ Augustine; and a pair of silver snuffers from M'. Hobbs. 
The rewards, which were made in money, to the servants who brought 
these, amounted to no inconsiderable sum. 

Of various other entries, in different years, the following are perhaps the 
most curious : 

" Item, geven to the Nurce and the Mydwife of Sir Harry Parker's 
wife, my Lady's Grace being godmother to her childe, xvs 

'^ Item, geven to a pore man toward his marriage at the request of 
Mr Tirell, iijs ixd 

'^ Item, geven to one com3nig from London for mending of my 
Lady's Chrace Virg3malls, vs 

'^ Item, delyvered to my Lady's Grace on Candlemas daye to put 
in hir taper iij. half-angeles: x» iijd 

" Item, payed to Charles Morley for bowes, arowes, a quyver, 
with other thinges for my Lady's Grace, xijs x^ 

" Item, payd for the hjrre of a barge for Doctor Mychaell and M». 
John i>oticary, comyng to my lady's Grace beyng sicke, vijs vjd 

" Item, payed for silver to embraudre a Box for my lady Eliza* 
beth grace, xijt 

" Item, geven to George Mountejoye drawing my Ladyc's Grace 
to his Valentine, xl« 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 273 

*' Item, gcven amongs the yeomen of the King's guard bringing 
a Leke to my Lady's Grace on Saynt David's day xv*. 

'^ Item, geven to one of the late Qwenes palfrey men attending 
wit^ ij. palfreys upon my Lady^s Grace from Richemount to Hampton 
Court and home agayne, v*. 

'' Item, geven to Heywood playeng an enterlude with his childien 
before my Lady's Grace, xl». 

'^ Item, payed for a yerde and a halfe of damaske fbr Jane the 
fole, vij". 

" Item, for shaving of Jane fooles hedde, iiij**. 

'^ Payed for a firountlet loste in a wager to my Lady Margaret, iiiji*. 

^' Item, payed for a brekefast loste at boiling by my Lady Mary's 
Grace, x«. 

" Item, payed for one pounde and a halfe of gold, for embrawder- 
ing of a night gown, Ix*. 

*"*• Item, payed for a boye of M**. Launder, for his costs at scole, 
and bjmding him prentise, Iv*. 

'^ Item, geven to Chrisiofer the surgion comjmg from London to 
Tittenhanger, to lett my Lady's Grace blodde, xxij". vj**," 

There is yet one passage in the Council's Letter which requires a brief 
comment. It relates to the appointment of a Lord of Misrule. '^ In the 
feaste of Christmas," says Stow, '' there was in the Eling's House, 
wheresoever he was lodged, a Lord of Misbule, or master of merry 
disports : and the like had ye in the House of every nobleman of honor or 
good worship, were he spiritual or temporal " ^' These Lordes beginning 
their rule on Alhollow eve, continued the same till the monow after the 
feast of the Purification commonly called Candlemas day : in all which 
space there were fine and subtle disguisyngs, maskes, and mummeries, 
with playing at cards for counters, nails, and points in every House, more 
for pastimes than for game." 

In the Archieologia of the Society of Antiquaries, voL xvilL p. 313, 
are some Observations on the Christmas diversions formerly given by the 
Lord of Misrule, and on the King's Office of Revels and Tents ; chiefly 
from Papers preserved at Losely near Guildford ; by William Bray Esq', 
followed by a Copy of an Appointment of a Lord of Misrule. This 
Office of Revel Master appears to have been retained longer in oar Inm 
of Court than any where. 

Other countries, as well as England, had their Lord of Miarule. In 
Scotland he was called the Abbat of Unreason, in France the Abbi de 
Malgonveme and Abbe de Leisse. 

In Scotland the performance of this character was prohibited by Actof 
Parliament in 1555. See Jamieson's Etymological Dictionary in v. 
Abbot. 

VOL. I. T 



274 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER XCIV. 

Queen Catharine of Arragon and Kmg Henry the 
Eighth to Cardinal Wolsey i a Joint-Letter, a. d. 
1527. 

[us. COTTOK. VITELL. B. XII. foL 4. Orig.1 

•j^» The mutilated joinUletter now presented to the Reader^ is one of 
the most curious fragments which these volumes wiU preserve. The fint 
part forms a Note from the Queen, anxious for the coming of Campegius^ 
stedfast in the hope that her cause would he affirmed, and kind and 
caressing to Wolsey. It is entirely in Catharine's hand-writing ; but 
breaks off abruptly ; Henry the Eighth having consented to her im- 
portunity, and taken up the pen to finish it. 

Here we have another added to the many proofs already known, that, 
whatever were Henry's scruples really, however blinded by lust, or de- 
termined to get rid of Catharine, his heart respected her. 



My Lord in my moste humblyst wys that my hart 
can thinke .... me that I am so bold to troubyl 

you with my sjrmpyl ytt to prosed from her 

that is muche desirus to kno I paersave be 

this berar that you do ; the wiche I as I 

am moste bonde to pray, for I do know the g 

you have taken for me bothe day and nyght .... 
. . . my part but allonly in loveng you next on to the 

creatures leveng and I do not dought 

but the shall manefcstly declaer and 

aferme my Wryte trust you do thynke 

the same. My Lord I do assure y from 

you som neues of the Lcgat, for I do hope and . . . 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 275 

shall be very good, and I am seur that you 

deseyre and more and ytt waer possibel as 

I knowe ytt ys not In a stedfast hope I 

make a nend of my lettar of her that 

is moste bounde to be 

Here Queen Catharine's part ends, the rest is in the hand-writing of 
Henry the Eighth. 

The wrytter off thys Letter wolde tiott cease tyll 

she had to sett to my hand, des3rryng yow 

thought it be short to t I ensure yow 

ther is nother off us but that grettly desiry 

muche more reioyse to here that you have scapyd thys 

plage the fury theroff to be passyd, spe-*. 

cyally with them that k as I trust yoW 

doo. The nott her)aig off the Legl ary wall 

us sumwhat to muse, nott withstandjmg we trust by 

your dilyg (with the assystence of all myghty 

God) shortly to be easyd owght ... no more to yow 

att thys tyme, but that I pray God send yow 

and prosperyte as the wryters wolde. By your lovyng 

So Frende 

BtEKR . . . 



The reluctance and affected delays of Campegius in bringing the 
Pope*s decretal Bull to England in 1527, cannot be unknown to afty 
reader of English History. He arrived on October the 9^K that year; 
but so severely afflicted by £he gout, as to make him decline (he so- 
lemnities of a triumphant entry into Lofldoti, which Henry atfd WoliJey 
had planned for hun. 



T 2 



276 ORIAIN'AL LETTERS. 

LETTER XCV. 

William Knight to Cardinal fVokey. a. d. 1527. 

[m8. cotton. VE8P. F. I. foL 70. Ong,] 

*«* John Zapol Sqmse, vaivode of Transylvania, accoiding to Loid 
Herbert, pretending he was chosen King of Hungary by the greater part 
of the nobility, complained to divers of the Christian Princes, and par- 
ticularly to Henry the Eighth of the usurpation of Ferdinand of Aostiia, 
whose personal merit and powerful connections had occasioned the Hun- 
garian nobility in fact to give him the preference over his competrtor. 

The real state of the case, however, stood thus. Upon the death of 
Lewis King of Hungary without issue, a dispute arose respecting the 
succession between John Zapol Sepuse, and Ferdinand of Austria, the 
latter supporting his daim by his relationship to the late King, and by 
several Treaties between the House of Austria and the Kings of Hungary. 
In an Assembly of the Nobles at Abbe Royal, John was declared King, 
and was crowned by some bishops a few months after the death of Lewis. 
But Stephen Bathoreus the palatine of the Kingdom, and the greatest part 
of the nobility and bishops being attached to Febdikakd, who was 
likewise favoured by Margaret the queen of Hungary his sister, his daim 
prevailed ; and he was crowned King at Abbe Royal about a year afier 
John Zapol, whom he had expelled. John Zapol, having nuule oonditiona 
with and obtained the assistance of Solyman the Turk, in turn, defeated 
Ferdinand ; and again obtained the investiture of the Kingdom. A peace 
however, was at last made in 1536, when it was agreed that John should 
continue in possession of the part of Hungary which he then held ; but that 
at his death the whole Kingdom should fall to Ferdinand and his issue. 
Jolm died in 1541 ; but Hungary was Icfl open to firesh commotions. 

The first part of the following Letter details the circumstances of the 
audience which Henry the Eighth gave to Jerome k Lasco, John Zap<d*8 
ambassador, in which, however, no mention occurs of Ferdinand. The 
answer which was given is not very dissimilar to that which Hall assures 
us was afterwards returned to the more ceremonious embassy of Ferdinand, 
by the mouth of Sir Thomas More. 

The second portion of this Letter dwells upon a different topic It 
divulges a scene between Henry the Eighth and his Secretary truly 
characteristic of that determination which marked the whole of the King*8 
conduct in the business of the divorce ; and furnishes an instance of no 
common perfidy. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 277 

Of William Knight, the writer of this Letter, an Account is given in 
Wood's Athenae Oxonienses. He was Secretary hoth to King Henry the 
Seventh and King Henry the Eighth ; by the latter of whom he was sent 
upon an Embassy to the Emperor Maximilian. He died at Calais in 1540. 



Please it your Grace to understond that the x^^ day 
of this present moneth I received from your Lordship 
a pacquet of Lettres, and amongs the same oon di- 
rected unto the Kyngs Highnesse which I delyvred 
knmediatly at the Moore*. And this day beyng the 
xiiij^** day of this Moneth I received oon othr piquet, 
and in the same a Lettre for his Highnesse, then bey- 



• The manor of the More, from which several Letters in thia Volume are daled, 
was situated in the parish of Rickmeresworth in Hertfordshire; Stow, in his An- 
nals, under the year 1472, says, ** George Nevill archbishop of York, being at Wind- 
sor with King Edward on hunting, the King promised the archbishop to oome €o 
THK More (a place in Hertfordshire which the archbishop had purchased and 
bu41ded commodiously) there to hunt and make merry with him, whereupon the 
archbishop taking his leave of the King, went home to his manor of the More, and 
tiiere made great provision for the King, and sent for much plate that he had IM at 
the time of Barnet and Tewkesburie fields, and besides this borrowed much of his 
friends, and purveyed for the King for two or three days meat, drink, and lodging* 
as royally as he could : but the day before the King had promised to have come to 
the More, the King suddenly sent for the archbishop to come to WindaoK, where he 
was arrested of Treason that he should help the Earl of Oxford, and so was sent to 
Calais, and to Hammes, where he continued long after prisoner : all which time the 
King kept thearchbishoprick in his own hands. In this mean while Sir William Parr 
Knight, and Sir Thomas Vahan, and other, were sent to the More to seise all hit 
goods for the King, which came there to the sum of L 30,000; and all other lordships 
and lands that the said archbishop had within England, and all his stuff and riches." 

In the first year of King Henry the Seventh, this manor was granted to John Vere 
Earl of Oxford : but afterwards came again to the Crown, and was not granted away 
from it till the time of James !■». A. D. 161T. 

There is a Survey of the House here, among the Lansdowne Manuscripts in the 
British Museum taken in 1568; and another of the lands in iSTl, when the estate 
which had been annexed to the Dutchy of Lancaster, was agreed to be granted out 
to the Earl of Bedford for his Life. From the former Survey it appears that the 
Mansion itself was of brick ; the chief buildings forming a square court which was 
entered by a Gate House with towers. The royal Lodgings were on the East and 
West sides of the Court, one being called the King's the other the Queen's side. On 
the North side of the Court was a long Gallery. The whole was moated. The di- 
lapidated state of this House seems to have been the cause of its being quitted as a 
royal residence. The necessary charges for repairs in 1568 were estimated at the stun 
of Li 806. 13. 4; while the estimate of what the materials of the House were worth 
as it stood amounted to no more than L1886. 18. 4. 



378 OKIGlliAL LKTTKK8. 

ing at Endvelde'', which was delyvred inoontynently. 
This day Senior Jeronimo de Lasko ambassador for 
the new elect Kyng of Hungary declared his charges 
before the Kyng and his Cowncel oonly, withowte any 
other audience; which in the begynnyng of his Ora- 
cion spake of the miserable chaunce of Hungary and 
thar with a good circumstaunce. Shewyng aftyrwardes 
how by free electicm of the noblemen of Hungary, Vay- 
woda his master beyng chosen Kjmg refused for cer- 
tayne considerations f accept the same: nevyrthelcsse 
by importunyte of the noblemen and ocHnmunes at that 
contree he was in a manyer compelled to take the go- 
vernance upon hym: beyng in ferme and good hope 
that all cristen princes wolde accept and take in good 
parte his election and admyssion unto the govenw 
aunce of Hungarye. And forasmoche as the Turkes 
beyng possessed in the chiefe castelles and holdes of 
that contree, havyng there grete numbre of men oi. 
warre in garrisones, yt is supposed and feared that a 
general conquest of Hungary is by theym purposed 
and determ3nied. He therefor desired sum ayde of the 
Kyngs Highnesse for resistence of the Tiurks and de- 
fens of the contree; and fynally shewed the singular 
good mynde that the Kyng of Hungarye bereth unto 
the Kings Highnesse, and moreovyr the grete confi- 
dens that he hathe in his Mageste: and thus mak3mg 
an ende of his Oracion retyred. Upon this the K3mg 

•' Eufleld. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 279 

rehersed effectuelly bifore his Cowncel the hole con- 
tentes of the saide Oracion, and, shewyng his pleasure, 
commawnded the Deane of his Chapel to exequute 
thesame in awnswra-e: which in effecte was this: The 
Kyngs Highnesse was right sorye of the grete calft- 
myte and ovyrthrow of the Hungaryones, and ensu* 
3nigly sayde that forasmoche as the new Kyng was 
€lect by th^assent and consent of the nobles and com- 
munes of that reame, yt was to be thowzt that thei dyd 
knowe suche qualitese of vertue in his personage as was 
requysite to be in hjnfn that shulde not oonly goveme 
in tyme of peaxe, but allso in case of Invasion bi the 
Turks shuld be moste mete to defend .and resbte. 
Wherefore the Kyngs Highnesse dyd congratulate 
and was veari glad of the sayde Kyngs assumpcion unto 
the govemement of Hungarye. As towching ayde and 
succours, yf the contrees dyd so nere adjoyne that his 
Highnesse myght convenyently and in tjrme cum or 
send ayde unto theym, he wolde ney ther spare ^ s tre- 
sore nor other thyng beyng within his domynyons, nor 
refuse to adventure his owen persone yf the case so 
requyred ; but the distaunce of the regicms considred, 
and moreovyr the cruel warre that is n^ished, sus- 
teyned, and contynued in Crystend<»ne not oonly b&- 
twene meane princes, which by mediacion and persua- 
sion of the chieffes and heddes myzt be easily recon- 
ciled, but by extreme tirannye executed agaynst the 
See apostolique and the Vicare of Criste by hym tliat 



^S80 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

of veari duety owgt to supporte, maynteigne, and de- 
fend the same, yt niyght so chaunce that his Highnesse 
shulde see cawse to employe and bestowe all his myght 
and power for redresse and reformacion thereof. And 
fynally thanks was gyven for the King of Hungari's 
giKxl mynde, and wa^i recompensed with offerts of like 
kyndnesse. Th'ambassador had a brodre with hym 
callwl Stanyslaus de Lasko, whome at the request of 
Uumibassador the King dyd make Knighte; and this 
doone, thci departed from the Courte. And forasmoche 
as the Kyngs Highnesse wolde that your Grace shulde 
be participant of that that occurreth or is by his High- 
nesse and Cowncel doone here, he commaunded me 
immediatli to write the premisses; and aftyrwards 
dyd send for me unto a secrete place, and willed me to 
wrizt unto your Grace in moste secret and diligent 
manyer that I cowde this that foloweth. 

So yt is that Frauncoise Philip, Spagniard, sewer 

imto the Queue, hath instantly laboured for licence to 

go into Spaigne, pretendyng cawse and colour of his 

goyng to be forasmoche as he saiyth he wolde viset his 

uuKlre which is veari sore syk. The Queue hath bothe 

n^fusinl to assent unto his goyng, and allso laboured 

xnuo the Kings Highnesse to empeshe the same. The 

^\u$s Highnesse know)aig grete colusion and dis- 

>A-ifttti«cion betwene theym, doyth allso dissymule, fay- 

ij^mc A»* Philip his desyre ys made upon good 

fnnm&c Xi\A consideracion, and easyli hath persuaded 



OniGlNAL LETTERS* 281 

the Quene to be content with his goyng; and bicawse 
it was thowzt daungerous for hym to passe throwz 
Fraunce, or at this season by the Seeys, the Kyng hath 
sayde that in case Philip be taken by ennymyse his 
Highnesse will redempe hym and pay his rawnesome. 
And this policie the Kyng useth to bring Philip in 
more ferme confidence. But his pleasure ys, and aUso 
he desireth and prayeth your Grace to use suche poli- 
cie as notwithstondyng any salve conduct that the 
saide Philip shall obteigne, other by your Graces 
meanes or any other, of the Frensh King, he may be let, 
empeshed, and deteigned in sum quarter of Fraunce; 
so that it be not in any wise knowen that the saide lett, 
arrest, or deprehension shulde cum bi the King, by 
your Grace, or any of the Kings subjectes. The King's 
Highnesse doith perceyve that the Quene is thoonly 
cawse of this manny's goyng into Spaigne, as he that 
is and hath bene allways prive unto the Quelle his 
affaires and secretes. And whereas the saide Philip 
hath his passeport delivered, signed, and sealed, and 
hath shewed unto the Kyng that he entendyth to passe 
by Calays and by your Grace, and peraventure not 
havyng trust and confidence in any salve conduct to 
be grawnted in Fraunce doith but dyssimule, entend- 
yng to passe with the first that will contynue the pass- 
age by See. His Grace hertili desyreth yow in this 
case to advertise my Lorde of Worcettur, requyryng 
hym by all manyer of waiys to herkyn, espie, serchc, 



282 OA16IKAL L£TT£KS. 

[and] enquyre to what personages in themperor*8 
Courte Philip shall frequent and reasorte, and what he 
doyth and what he entend3rth there. The Holigoste 
preserve your Grace. At Envelde this xv9* day of 
July. 

Your moste humble bedesman 

Lorde Legats 
good Grace. 



LETTER XCVI. 

Sir Bryan Tuke to Cardinal Wolsey, a. d. 1528. 
[ms. cotton, vesp. c. IV. fol. 237. OrigJ] 

*^* Of this Letter the first and last parts only are given to the reader; 
the intermediate portion, relating to the Truce which Henry the Eighth 
was obliged to conclude with the Lady Margaret of FUnders being 
omitted, as a matter of no high importance. 

The circumstance of the re-making of Henry the Eighth*s Will as 
early as 1528, mentioned in the paragraphs given, is too carious not to 
be remarked upon. 

It is probable that, in his caprice, Henry, during a long reign, made 
many VTills ; but, apparently, without consulting his Lawyers. In this 
instance, at least, he devised the rough draft for himself, and then sent fat 
cuie of his Secretaries to write it out. 

The original of Henry^s last will of all is still remaining in the 
Chapter House at Westminster ; on paper ; forming a thin quarto Volume. 
It is dated Dec. 30^^ 1546. The King^s name is signed to it at the be- 
ginnmg and the end, with his own hand ; the latter of the signatures foL 
lowed by the names of eleven Witnesses. 

Different objections have been made to the genuineness of diis Will ; bvt 
there seems no reasonable ground to doubt its authenticity : although the 
probability is great that it was made in haste ; and that Henry was assisted 
in tile writing of his name. Hiii signatures indeed, both at the b^inniog 



OHIGIKAL LKTTEKS. S83 

and tlie end are written with an appearance of strength, at a time when a 
shaking hand might rather have been expected from his infirmities. 

From the heading of a Letter which will be given in another page, it 
spears that as early as 1530 Henry had, at times, used a Stamp to save 
the trouble of signing documents with his name : and as age and infirmities 
increased, he used it oftener. Toward the close of his life, upon particular 
occasions, it was countersigned. Among the Harleian Charters in the 
Museum a are his original Letters patents with the Great Seal appended, 
directed to the archbishop of Canterbury and others, not lets than Hx of 
them^ to make warrants, i&om time to time ^' in our name, and under ou& 
STAMP remayning in the custody of our Counsail, for the -paymiakt of 
money :" dated in the 36*. year of his reign. 

The use of this stamp in so hnportant a document as the testamentary 
disposition of Henry^s Kingdoms, would undoubtedly have been liable to 
great objection. 

Sir Bryan Tuke the writer of this Letter, was Treasurer of the Chamber 
and Secretary to King Henry the Eighth. Tanner, from one of Ashmole*8 
manuscripts at Oxford, says he was first made Secretary to the King for 
the French tongue in 1523, with a stipend of a hundred marks a year. . 

About 1525 he purchased the manor of Layer Mamey in Essex of the 
coheirs of Lord Mamey ; and was sheriflfof Essex in 1533. At a later 
period, in 1540, he obtained a grant of the manor of South Weald in that 
county, which had belonged to Waltham Abbey. He died Oct 26*. 
1545, and was buried in the church of &K Margaret Walbrook London ^. 



Please it your good Graxie to understonde, insuyng 
the purpose whiche I last wrote unto your Grace, I 
sent on with my Lettres to M": Treasorer for knowlege 
of the Kings pleasure whither I shulde repaire to his 
gracious presence; whiche M"^ Treasorer, at the arri- 
val of the messenger at Waltham, lay there sike of the 
Swet; and the Kings Highnes removed to Hunsdon. 

■ Cart, antiq. Harl. 83. H. 9. 

h -ee Tann. BiUl. Brit. Hib. p. T24. Ryro. Fopd. torn. xiv. pp. 269, 40r, 488. Mo- 
rant, Histj^ Essex, \ol. i. pp. 117. 40T. Other Letters of his will are found among the 
Cott«)i)ian* Manuscripts; Galba B. vi. fiia. 94. B. Tin. fol. 4. Vitell. B. x. fid.89« 
R. XI. fol. so. Vesp. F. XIll. fol. 160. Tit. B. I. foil. 82, 91, 168, 277, 280, 282,280, 
402. B. XI. fol. 356. 



S84 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 

The messenger folowed, and, as I bad hym in M'. 
Treasorers absence, he delyvered the lettres to the 
King whiche his Grace red, bothe that whiche your 
Grace wrote to my Lorde of London and me, myn to 
my lorde of London, my Lorde of London'*s answer 
to me, and my lettre to M^: Treasorer. His Grace 
asked the messenger what disease I had, and he tolde 
his Grace wrong. Wherupon the King said I must 
neds come though I ride in a littor, and that if I had 
none, his Grace wolde sende me on. So knowing his 
gracious pleasour, I folowed on my mule a fote pace 
with merveilous payne, insomoche as I assure your 
grace on my faithe I voide blood per virgam^ and yes- 
terday in the after none camme hither, and spake with 
his Grace as soone as I camme. His Highnes sem- 
yng to be somwhat satisfied in the mater of the truce 
by reason of the lettres, said his first sending for me 
was for that cause ; but now he must put me to an other 
besynes, and occupie me here a good while; sa3ring to 
me secretely, and willing me so to kepe it, that it is to 
write out his last Wil, whiche his Highnes hathe nowe 

ncwely reformed. 

######### 

His Highnes having his sowper on the borde and 
in his sight, being redy to have sit doun when his 
Grace called for me, wolde at that tyme demore^ no 
more on the mater; but said he had hymself provided 

» demur. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^5 

my logyng at a gentilmans place herby, and willed me 
to take my rest for that nyzt, and to retorne to his 
Highnes this day ; at whiche tyme his Grace wolde 
conferre with me upon the other said secrete mater of 
his Wil. And so willing to have rewarded me with 
a dish if I had not said that I ete no fi^h, I, taking 
my leve of his Grace, departed ij. myles to the said 
lodgyng. 

And at my retorne this momyng founde his Grace 
going to the gardeyn, whither by commaundment of 
His Grace I wayted upon the same. After his retorne, 
and iij. masses herd, his Highnes immediately called 
me with hym to a Chamber that his Grace supped in 
apart yestemyzt ; and after communication of the good 
state of this House, with the holsomnes of the Ayre, 
and howe commodious it is for such a tyme of sikenes 
as this is, with other things aperteyn)aig to those ma., 
tiers, his Highnes delyvered me the Boke of his said 
Wil in many points reformed, wherein his Grace riped 
me, ordeynyng me a chambre here under his Privey 
Chamber, and willing me to sende for my stuf and to 
go in hande with his besynes ; and as I shalbe in any 
doubte, to repaire from tyme to tyme to his Grace : so 
as if it be as they of the Privey chambre tel me, I am 
not like to departe this v or vj. dales at the lest, though 
I have here no maner stuf but a bed that I brouzt on 
an horseback, redy to cast in an Inne or House where 
I shulde fortune to come. Howe be it, I do sende for 



986 ORIGINAL LETTEBS. 

my stuf and take in the meane tyme suche ad I easi 
borowe ; and am disapointed of my Phisicke whiche 
I had ordeyned to have used for a small tyme at my 
poore house in Essex, whither I sent a phisiciaii t» 
remayne with me for a season promysing hym a mnk 
by day, horsmete, and mans mete. Nowe I wol iODKfe 
hym worde to retome til I may have leve do departe : 
at whiche tyme I must most humbly beseche your 
Grace to licence me to attende upon my Phisician for 
viij. or X. dais, ellis I shal utterly, for lak of loking to 
at this bigynnyng, destroy my self for ever. 

It is said the Kings Highnes wol lye here riiy or x. 
dais. Other matier I have non worthy to advertise 
your Grace, whom I beseche almyzty God to preserve 
in good helthe, long life, and prosperite. At Hunsdon 
this Sonday at dyner tyme the xx*.** day of June 15S8. 
Your Graces most humble and most 
bounden servant 

BEYAN TUKE. 



LETTER XCVII. 

Sir Brian TuJce to Cardmai Wohey. 

[M9. cotton. TITUS, B. I. fol. 299.] 

*^ Beside his literary talents, Henry Ae Eighth was skittid to 

Music, and as will be seen in the following Letter, piqued himself upon 
possessing a competent knowledge of Medicine. 



OEieiNAL LETTERS. ^7 

The feader will probably smile to learn that a Volume of Henry the 
Eighth^s own time is still preserved", containing a large Collection of 
Recipes for plaisters, spasmadraps^ ointments, waters, lotions, de- 
coctions, and poultices, made by the King himself and his physicians. 
It begins with " the King's Majesty's own Piastre.'* Indeed all his 
Majesty's plaisters precede those of his Medical Attendants. 

The ingredients of these Recipes, though in different proportions, are 
much the same in kind. They consist of the roots, buds, and leaves of 
different plants; raisins without stones; linseed; quinseed; vinegar; 
iDse-water; long garden- worms ; malmesey and white wines; bole- 
armoniac ; lytherge of gold and silver ; scrapings of ivory ; pearls 
powdered fine ; red lead ; and red coral ; honeysuckle water; tiiesuet of 
hens ; and the fat from the thigh-bone of a calf. 

A plaister jointly devised by M'. Chambre, D'. Butts, D». Augusthi, 
and M'. Cromer, the four principal Physieiana o£ the Court, differs 
nothing in the ingredients. 

Of the Ointments in the Volume, fifteen out of fifty were devised and 
made by the King. 

Whether " a Plaster for my Lady Anne of Cleves to mollifie and re- 
solve, confort, and cease payne of cold and wyndie causses,*' was of his 
Majesty's composition or devised by his Phyiricians, is not stated. 

It was not, however, to the making of plaistera and ointments only that 
Henry's medical studies were confined. In '^ an Hospitall for the Diff- 
eased," 4'* Lond. 1595, sig. O. 2. i& ^^ A remtdt against the plague, 
sent to the Lord Mayor of London from King Henry the Eighth." 

A similar Recipe occurs among the Manuscripts of Sir Hans Sloane, 
intitled " A Medyc3rn for the pestylence, of Kyng Henry the Eighth, 
wyche hath helpyd dyvers persons." It is a^ollows : 

'^ Take on handfuU of marygolds, a handftill of sorel, and a handfiill 
of bumett, half a handful of fetherfew, half a handfril of rew, and a quan- 
tite of dragons of the top or els of the roott, and wesshe them deyn in ryn- 
B3mg water, and putt them in a pott wytfa apotell of rynnyng wateri and let 
them seyth easyly fro a poteU on to a quarte of lyquor, and then sett yt bak 
tyll yt be almost cold, and streyn yt theyn with a fyn doth, and dr]mk yt ; 
and yf yt be bytter put therto Sugen;. And yf it be takyn before that 
purpulls do apere yt wyll hele the syke person wyth Gods grace." « 

His Majesty's advice as to the nature and cure of the Sweating Sick- 
ness, will be found mixed up with other tubiieots, not lest interaiting^ in 
the following Letter. 



• MS. Sloane, Brit. Mu8. 1047. •• These were dipped-plaisters. 

• MS. Sloane> 4. p. 51. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 289 

the Kings Highnes who biganne his argument veray 
emestaly, by then I had answerd the objeccions of his 
• Grace, semed neither then nor at any tyme sithens 
glad to here any more reasonjoig in that mater; ne 
his Grace nowe any more stode therupon, but as is 
aforesaid, save only that his Highnes said that yet the 
Spanyards have avantage in that they may use his ha- 
vens to their commodite, and yet the EngHshmen 
myzt not do the same in Spayn; wherunto I answered 
that if the profite and commodite that may arise ther- 
upon with suche respects and consideracions as may 
be picked oute of the words of your Grace's said Lettre 
to me, that is to say, " When the benefite and quiet- 
** nes which is like to arise to al the King's subgetts 
** traveiling by every cost and see &c. shal be wel con- 
<^ sidred and digested, it shalbe found, quod iUe Ar- 
[ ** ticuluSy rum sine magna arte et ca/utela^ was cowched 
" in the said treux, &c.'' If this I said be wel con- 
isidred, it shalbe founde that it is no more to the Spa- 
nyards avantage, then it is and shalbe to the weal^ and 
commodite of the Kings realme; and that by then his 
Highnes hathe at good lenght ben by your Grace in- 
formed howe many other avantagfes may be taken to 
his Highnes by this truce, his Grace wol say it is on 
of the most politique handled matiers that hathe ben' 
seen. His Highnes being sjngulerly wel satisfied and 
pleased said, " Ye by God they delt with no fole:'' 

VOL. I. u 



290 OKIGINAL LETTEHS. 

meanyng by this worde they the ambassadors and se- 
cretaries: and so bad me rede forthe. 

As to the Lettres of the King of Scotts, I, bifore 
sowper, at his Graces commyng in from shoting, had 
put the same in remembrance of them, and of Gon- 
sons Lettre, wherupon his Highnes willed me to make 
a lettre to Gonson to tary on the See as long as his^ 
and the vitailes of the ship newely set forthe, shulde 
suffise ioic them al^. I said that that was the veray 
ccmtent of your Graces lettres written to the said Gon- 
son whiche his Grace had, and was redy signed, ned- 
ing noticing but sending forthe. Wherupon his High- 
nes commaunded M^ Norres to fetche me the said 
Lettres to Gonson, and to the King of Scotts, whiche 
wer in his prevy chambre, and so Master Norres 
brouzt them to my chambre; but the Lettre to the 
King of Scotts was unsigned; wherfore I prayed hym 
to have it to the King, then being set at sowper, and 
at convenient tyme to pray his Grace to signe it; but 
ificontinently he sent it me again saying that the 
Kings Highnes wolde speke with me on it after sow- 
p^. And at reding of your Graces said lettre his 
HiglMaes said " Wei I wol shewe you anon,'' and so 
bad me rede forthe. The next article, towching the 

■ In the Cottonian MS. Otho E. tx. fol. 85. is a Letter from William Godboii to 
C|urdinal Wolsey, probably the lame person, dated March is>^. without year« oon- 
c^rnlnf! the conduct he is to keep toimrd certain French and Spanish ships. Tn die 
some Ycdume, foL 64. is a set of Receipts from him for sums reoeiTed of ThomM 
Crolnwell* treasurer of th« King's Jewels, for victualling of certain ships. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S91 

relaxacion of the Kings ambassadors, merchants, and 
their goods, his Grace toke veray pleasantly, and spe- 
cially the words that your Graces maner was loked 
for cum magna omnium eocpectatione et spe Jviuras pdr- 
cisy saying that it was a gr^te apparence that al the 
eest shulde wel succede. 

In reding the article of the Lettres commen from 
my lorde of Bathe, his Grace semyng to thinke long 
to here them, while I red, sorted the Lettres and Co- 
pies of that mater by the markings on the bakks, say- 
ing when I red of the good office that Moret and 
th'ambassador had done, that nowe a man may see the 
honeste of Moret though it was thouzt he had not 
made the best reaport; gretely commending hym, and 
also the honeste, wisedome, and discrecion of the bi- 
shop of Bay on. 

And commyng to that your Grace wrote to be sory 
of my disease wherof I most humbly thanke your 
Grace, His Highnes begenne to tel me a medec3ni 
pro tumor e^ saving yo^ Grace's honor, testtcuhrum; I 
immediately said his Highnes was not wel informed of 
my disease whiche is not there but in vesica, and pro- 
cedeth ex calore in renibus. His Highnes had me by 
arid by, and I promyse your Grace gave me as direct 
counsail and shewed me the remedyes as any connyng 
phisician in England coude do. So most humbly 
thanking his Highnes I red forthe til it camme to the 
latter ende mencionyng your Graces good comfort and 

u 2 



292 OJtIGINyVL LETTERS. 

counsail geven to his Highnes for avoiding this Infec- 
cion, for the whiche the same with a most cordial ma- 
ner thanked your Grace. And, shewing me first a 
grete proces of the maner of that Infeccion howe folks 
wer taken, howe litel dangier was in it if good ordre 
be observed, howe fewe wer ded of it; howe Mastres 
Anne and my lorde of Rochforde bothe have had it, 
what jeoperdie they have ben in by retomjoig in of the 
swet bifore the tyme, of the endevor of M. Butts who 
hathe ben with them and is retorned, with many other 
things towching those maJtiers, and finally of their per- 
fite recovery. His Highnes willed me to write unto 
your Grace most hertily, desiring the same above ail 
other things to kepe Your Grace oute of al ayre where 
any of that Infeccion is, and that if [in] on place any 
on fal sike therof that your Grace incontinently do re- 
move to a clene place; and so in like case from that 
place to an other, and with a smal and clene company, 
saying that that is the thing wherby his Highnes hathe 
porged his House having the same nowe thanked be 
God clene. And over that his Highnes desireth your 
Grace to use smal sowpers, and to drinke litel wyne, 
namely that is big, and ons in the weke to use the 
pilles of Rasis*. And if it comme, in any wise to 
swete^ moderately the ful tyme, withoute suffering it to 
renne, in whiche by your Graces physicians, with a 
posset-ale having certein herbes clarified in it, shall 

• Probably so named from Rhasci the Arabian physician, bd. ^ sweat* 



ORIGINAL LETTEllS. J^3 

facilly, if nede be, be provoked and contynued; with 
more good holsom counsail by his Highnes in most 
tender and loving maner geven to your Grace then my 
symple wit can suffise to reherce, whiche his gracious 
eommaundment I said I wolde accomplish accordingly. 
Thus proceding to the lettres to shewe your Grace 
summarily, for rehersing every thing seriously I «hal 
over long moleste your Grace, his Highnes merve- 
lously commeildeth the Frenche Kings vertuous and 
religious demeanor used in the ceremonies on CorpUs 
Christi day, and the other day, against that dampnable 
and scelerate demeanor of those wors then Jues that 
wolde do suche dispite to the blissed Images where 
they can not do it to the thing self. Insomoche as 
after al the lettres red that camme oute of France, and 
that his Grace was going to his Privey Chambre, the 
same in his way calling me to it, tolde the gentilmen of 
his Privey chambr the hole maner of it, and after that 
asmoche as your Grace wrote in your lettre, and as 
my lorde of Bathe writeth of the good hoope that is in 
the maters of Spayn, and with what desire your Graces 
maner was abiden, wiUing me to rede them the clause 
of my lorde of Bathes lettre towching the French Kings 
said demeanor. When in my lorde^ of Bathes lettre 
I red this clause " et maff nus numerus specially of no^ 
" ble men, and suche as be of counsail here, be right 
" sory that the Frenche King their master hathe not 
'' suche an other counsaillor,*" the Kings Highnes said 



294' ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

" Ye by Gkxi I blame them never a dele.*" . The residue 
of al the Lettre also singulerly wel liked his Grace, and 
so did the Frenche Kings lettres to the Poope and to 
his Ambassador resident with his Holjoies towching 
the Kings mater, which lettre to the ambassador his 
Highnes rekeneth more efiFectuelly cowched then thai 
to the Poope being nevertheles veray glad of them 
bothe, the copies wherof his Grace toke and said he 
wolde incontinently sende on with them to mastres 
Anne for her consolacion. 

His Highnes also liketh wel the Frenche Kings Let- 
tres to the Venecians for Ravenna and Servia, and de- 
sireth your Grace to write unto the Frenche to finde 
the meanes that those two townes may be put in to the 
Kings and the Fretiche Kings hands as was ons spo- 
ken of; thinking that the Poopes Holynes wol be then 
the more glad to condescende unto the Kings desireis 
whiche his Grace nowe feareth by reason of the long 
taryeng of Lettres from M ^. Stephens^, that the Poopes 
Hol3mes stikketh in for feare of the Emperor. The 
Lettre of my Lady the Frenche Kings moder to your 
Grace, the Kings Grace thouzt also veray prudently, 
wel, and truly cowched. Al whiche things red, being 
then xj. of the clok at nyzt, his Grace said he wolde 
see the Newes of Spayn this day. Howe be it his 
Grace is not yet commen doun, for his Highnes com- 
meth by my chambre dore, and dothe for the most 

• R'. Stephen Gardiner. 



ORIGINAL LKTTKRS. 295 

parte, going and commyng, toume in for divising with 
ine upon his Boke, and other things occurrant. 

As I was at this worde his Highnes camme doune 
and streight into my chambre, asking me howe nere I 
had don ; and I shewed his Highnes howe ferre fortht^ 
I am, and therupon did put his Grace in remembrance 
to see the newes of Spayn, and to signe the King of 
Scotts lettre whiche- his Grace saithe he wol do sone, 
and is gone a walking. 

Now is worde commen that M. Gary, whiche bi- 
fore I camme lay in the chambr where I lye, and with 
whom at my first commyng I met nere unto the place, 
saying that he had been with his wife at Plashey% and 
wolde not be seen within, bycause he wolde ride again 
and hunte, is ded of the swet. Our Lorde have mercy 
on his soule ; and holde his hande over us^ 

Insuyng your Grace''s commaundement, when I 
have don here, I wo] dispose me to repaire unto your 
Grace by suche journeys as I maye endure, whiche is 
not over ten myles in a day. And by London away I 
dare not comme. Wherfore I wol cost to the water 
side, and come the rest by water thorough London 
bridge. Though I promyse your Grace there is non 
erthely riches shulde cause me to travaile moche nowe, 
considering that the phisicians tel me there is nothing 

• Pleshey, near Great Walthara in Essex, was the ancient seat of the High Consta- 
bles of England. 

»" This was William Carey, who married Mary the sister of Anne Boleyn. He wa« 
esquire of the body to the King. See Dugd. Bar. torn. il. p. 397« 



296 ORIGINAL LETTERS* 

that more stirreth the mater and cause of the Swet 
then moche traveil, and likwise commyng in the S^a. 
And of my disease, I assure your Grace I am wors by 
moche then I was. I most humbly beseche your Grace 
to geve me knowlege if your Grace fortune to remove, 
that I may spare as moche travaile oute of the way as 
may be. Thus not tarying til the King have red the 
newes of Spayn, and keping the rest of the lettres with 
me til I may remyt them to your Grace to gider, and 
having sent forthe your Graces lettre to Gonson with 
on of mjme excusing the long delay, I depeche this 
lettre to advertyse your Grace of the premysses. To 
whom I beseche almyzty Jesu to sende long and pros- 
perous life to al our comforts. At Hunsdon this 
Tewsday the xxiij*^ day of June 1528. 

Your Graces most humble and feithefiil 

« 
bounden servant 

To my Lorde Legats good • BRIAN TUKE. 

Grace. 



Of the Sweating Sickness it may not be improper to sul^join a 
short Account It was called by the learned and foreigners ^* Sudor- 
Britannicus," and, by the common people of the country, '*- The Sweat*' 
or " New Acquaintance" a. 

It ma'le its first appearance in England in 1483, in the army of Heniy 
the Seventh, after his landing at Milford Haven. It appeared again, 
raging chiefly in the summer, in 1485, in 1506, in 1517, in 1628, and 
lastly in 1551. After which time it entirely disappeared. In 1529, and 
only then, it infested the Netherlands and Germany. 

• Bryan Tuke in a Letter to Peter Vannes, Wolsey's secretary, MS. Cotton. Tit* g. 
XI. fol. 3.56. says, "It reignetli in no country but in the King's domynion, bdng 
called in France and Flandres the King of England's Sikencs, and by them not es- 
tomed." 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 293 

In 1517 it was so violent as sometimes to prove fatal in three hours. 
It more commonly killed those who were seized with it in seven or eight 
hours. Those who survived twenty-four hours generally recovered. 

Our chief information of the s3rmptoms and treatment of this disorder 
is derived from D^ Caius, one of the most learned and most rational 
physicians of his day, who wrote two Treatises upon it, one in Latin for 
the learned, the other for the common people in English. They were 
both published in 1552, the year after the last disappearance of the 
malady. The s3rmptoms are described as alarming from the first moment, 
such as burning heat, excessive sickness, head-ach, delirium, unquenchable 
thirst, vehement pulse, and labouring breath. Old people, children, and 
the poor, were the least subject to its attacks. 

The following is D'. Caius^s Account of the progress of this disorder 
through the country in 1651 : 

^^ The fifth tyme* of this fearful Ephemera of England and pestilent 
Sweat, is this in the yeare mdlt. of oure Lord Ood, and the fifth yeare 
of oure Sovereigne Lorde King Edward the Sixth, beginning at Shrewes- 
bury in the middest of April, proceedinge with great mortalitie to Ludlowe, 
Prestene, and other places in Wales, then to West Chestre, Coyentre, Ox- 
enfoorde, and other townes in the Southe, and such as were in and aboute 
the way to London, whither it came notablie the seventh of July, fmd there 
continuing sore, with the losse of vij C Ixj. from the ix. day until the xvj. 
day, besides those that died in the vij and viij dayes of whom no registre 
was kept ; from that it abated untU the xxx. day of the same, with the losse 
of Clxij. more. Then, ceasing there, it wente from thence throughe all the 
east partes of England into the North untill the ende of Auguste, at which 
tymc it diminished, and in the ende of Septembre fully ceassed." ** 



LETTER XCVIII. 

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, 

[ms. cotton, galba b. v. foL 122. OrigJ] 



HjT may lyke your good Grace to be advertised 
that yister nyghte the Kings Highnes comraaunded 

• It should be the sixth. 

k See th« English Tteatise, printed by Grafton, 12<» Lond. 1552. fol. 10 b. 



298 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

me to advertise your Grace that his servant Michael 
the Geldrois delivered hym a Lettre from Mons' de 
Iselsteyne, which his Grace hath sent unto Yours, in 
such maner cowched that it.semeth to his Highnes to 
have proceded not without th^advice of my Lady 
Margaret and the Counsaile there. And for as mych 
as the Lettre mencioned credence to be geven to the 
bringer in the declaring of the same, he shewed tin to 
his Highnes un the behalfe of Mons^ d'Eselsteyne that 
my Lady and all the Counsaile there, and among other 
hym selfe, especially were very sory for this warre, in- 
timated un to th''Emperor, and mervelouse loth and 
hevy wold be that eny warre shold arise bytwene 
theym : and that it were to great pitie, and a thyng 
highly declaring Our Lord sore displeasure with Chris- 
ten peple, if the thre grotteste Princes of Christen- 
dome cummyng to so nere points of peace and concord, 
shold in so nere hope and expectatione of peace so- 
daynly fall at warre, beseching the Kings Highnes 
graciously to percever in his godly mynde and appe- 
tite of peace : and how so ever it shold happe to fall 
bytwene hym and Spajme, yit to considre his auncient 
Amitie, and t<ycontinue his good and graciouse favour 
toward Flandres and those Lowe Cuntries, which of 
all folke living lotheste wolde be to have eny enemyte 
with his Grace or his peple. Adding therunto that if 
his Highnes has of his high wisedome eny convenient 
meanys by whiche liis Grace thought that the peace 



ORIGINAL LKTTKBS. 299 

myght yit be trayned and cum to good point, that 
thing knowen, he wold not dowte to eum over hym 
selfe to his Grace with sufficient authorite to conclude 
hit. Whereunto the Kings Grace answered that no 
creature living, Prince nor pore man, was more lothe 
to have cummen to the Warre than he, nor that more 
labour and travaile had taken in his mynde to conduce 
the peace which he had undowtedly brought to passe, 
if with th' Emperor either resonable respecte of his . 
awne honor, profite, and suertie, or eny regard of the 
commen weale of Christendome myght have taken 
place. And sith hit was without his fawte and agaynst 
his mynde cummen to this point now, his Grace muste 
and wold with other his frends, and helpe of God, de- 
fende his and theire good cause, and the commen state 
of Christendom, agaynste such as by theire immode^ 
rate sore dealing shew theym selfe uttrely sett uppon 
a purpose to putte all in theire awne subjection. And 
that as towchyng the Lowe Cuntreis he had for the old 
frendeshippe and amite such favor to theym, that, as it 
hath well appered by his actis, synnys th'intimation, he 
hath not bene hasty to do theym harme, nor at the 
leste wise to breke eny clause of theire old entrecourse, 
albeit every clause had not bene kepte toward hym. 
Wherin his Grace said that sumwhat thei had now 
bygon to loke un to, and he dowted not but more they 
wold for their honor. And where as Mons'. d''EseIs- 
tayne, uppon the hope hadde of eny good wais of peaxe, 



800 OllICINAL LKTTEK8. 

ofired hym selfe to cum over with sufficient authorite, 
his Grace saied that both for his great wisedome and 
good zele toward peace, and old frendely mynde toward 
his Grace of long tyme well knowen, and for th'ac- 
quayntaunce bytwene theym with the favor that his 
Grace hath for his well deserving merits long borne 
un to hym, no man shold be to his Grace more well- 
cum, nor none could there cum thense to whom his 
Grace could fynd in his hart more largely to declare 
his mjmde, in which he had conceived such things that 
he dowted not if he cam over with sufficient authorite 
frbm th'Emperor, either he shold conclude the Peace 
or plajmely perceive and confesse hym selfe that th* 
Emperors immoderate hardness shold be the onely 
lett and defawte. Uppon this the said Michael saied 
that Mons*^ d'Esilsteyne wold be glad to know what 
those devices were, which knowen he myght se what 
hope he myght have of eny frute to cum of his camm- 
ing. Wherunto the Kings Highnes answered, that sith 
his Grace had made the intimation it wold not well 
stande with his honor after such a sleight fashion to 
make eny overture of such points. But if Mons' d'E- 
silsteyne cam in such sufficient maner, authorised by 
th'Emperor he shold not faile to fynde his Grace such, 
that having so good zele and desire to the peace, he 
shold have cause to be gladde.of his jomey. And thus 
much the Kings Highnes commaunded me to adver- 
tise your Grace concernyng the communication had 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. SOI 

bitwene his Grace and the said Michael, desiring your 
Grace of your high wisedome to considre what were 
ferther to be devised or sett forth concemyng the said 
overture of Mons^. d''Esilsteyne. 

After this, whan I was goone from his Highnesse 
hit lyked hym to send agayne for me in to his Privy 
Chambre, abowte x. of the clokke, and than com- 
maunded me to advertyse your Grace ferther, that he 
had considered with hym selfe how loth the Low 
Cuntreis be to have eny warre with hym, and that hym 
selfe and your Grace, if it may be voided, wold be as 
lothe to have eny warre with theyrii ; and for that cause 
his Grace thinketh it good that albeit he wold there 
were no slakkenes in putting of my lord Sands and his 
cumpany in a redynesse ; yet they shold not over has- 
tely be sente over leste those Low Cuntrees, being put 
in more dowte and fere of his Graces entent and pur- 
pose toward theym for some exploit to be done by 
land, myght be the rather moved to retayne and kepe 
still the goods of his merchaunts ; and to bygyime also 
some busynes uppon th'Englisshe pale, which thing, 
the mater thus hanging without ferther fere or suspi- 
cion added, his Highnes verily thinketh that they will 
not attempte, but rather in good hope of peace, ac- 
celerate the delivery of his merchaunts goods, namely 
perceiving the discharge of the Spanyards whom by 
your Graces moost advice his Highnes hath conde- 
scended shortely to sett at libertie and fre passage. 



302 ORKilNAL LETTERS*. 

And his Grace also thinketh that if my Lord Sands 
with his OMnpany were at Gisnes, they shold be sore 
preaced* by the French partie to joyne with them in 
some exploite uppon the borders of Flaunders ; which 
thyng either they should stifly refuse to do, and therby 
peradventure move grudge and suspicion, or 303018 in 
the doing, and therby some hurt done unto Flaundres 
uppon the f run tiers myght not onely exasperate the 
mater and hyndre the peace, causyng the goods of 
his merchaunts to be retayned, but also geve occasion 
to have some broilery made upjx)n the English pale, 
in which his peple myght percase take more harme 
than they shold inferre. And whan I was abowte 
to have shewed his Highnes sumwhat of my pore 
mynde in the mater, he saied this gere^ could not be 
done so sodeynly but that his Grace and yours shold 
speke to gether first, and in the meane while he com- 
maunded me this mych to advertyse your Grace of 
his mynde. 

Ferthermore his Highnes desireth your Grace at 
such tyme as ye shall call the Spanyards by fore you 
to geve theym libertie to departe, hit may lyke you in 
such effectuall wise to declare un to theym what favor 
his Highnes bereth to the nation of Spayne, and how 
lothe his Grace wold have ben to have eny warre with 
thejnn ; that th'opinion of his graciouse favor toward 
theym comprobate and corroborate by their discharge 

pressed. >» stuff. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^OS 

and franke deliveraunce being by them reported in 
Spayne, may move the nobles and the peple there to 
take the more grevousely toward th'eymperor that his 
unresonable hardenes shold be the cause and occasion 
of the warre. His Highnes hath ieJso commanded me 
to write un to your Grace that ther is an Hospitall in 
Sowthwarke whereof his Highnes is enformed that the 
maister is olde, biynd, and feble, and albeit that the 
Hospitall is in the gifte of the Bishoppe of Wynches- 
tre, yit his Grace is enformed that your Grace may as 
Legate geve the maister in this case a coadjutor, which 
if your Grace conveniently may, than his Highnes very 
hartely requireth your Grace that it may lyke you to 
appoint for his coadjutor his Grace^s chappeleyn lif ' 
Stanley, which to desire of your Grace he saith that ij. 
things move hym ; the one that he wold the man were 
provided for, being a gentleman borne, and his Grace^s 
chappeleyn ; the tother is that his Grace being therby 
ridde and discharged of hym, myght, as he shortely 
wold, have a bettre lemed man in his place. 

Hit may like your Grace to receive with this pre- 
sent such Lettr6s as the Kings Grace hath yesterday 
received owte of Ireland, which after that I had by his 
Graces commandement redde and reported un to his 
Grace, he commaunded me to sende theym un to your 
Grace to be by your high wised(»n ferther considered 
and answeris to theym to be devised, such as to your 
high prudence shalbe sene convaiient. And thus our 



304 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Lord long preserve your good Grace in honor and 
helth. At Wyndesore this xvj* of Marche 
Your Graces humble orator and 

M oost bounden bedisman 

THOMAS M.ORE. 



LETTER XCIX. 

Mary the French Queen to her brother K. Hen. VIII^ 

[harl. MS. 6986. ART. 6. Orig.^ 



My most derest and best belowyd brother I hum- 
bly recommend vn to yowr grace. Sir so yt tys that I 
have bene very seke and eke atons* for the wyche I 
was fajnne to sende for Master Peter the fesysyon for 
to have hoplen^ me of the dessays^ that I haue. How 
be yt I am rathar wors than better. Were for ^ I 
trowst showrlyc to come vp to Londone with my Lord. 
For and yf I shold tary here I am sowr I shold never 
asspeare the sekeny s that I haue. Wer for, Sir, I wolde 
be the gladther a.grete dele to com thether, by cawse 
I wold be glad to se yowr grace, the wyche I do 
thjnticke long for to do ; for I haue bene a grete wyle 
out of yowr syte : and now I thowst I shal not be so 
long agene : for the syte of yowr grace ys to me the 
grettys comforte to me that may be possybel. No 

• at onec. ^ holpen. • dis«as«. ^ wherefore. • xurtly. « 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 305 

more to your grace at thys tyme, bwt I pray God 
send yow yowr hartys dessyr, and showrly to the syte 
ofyow. 

by yowr lowyng suster 

MARY THE FRENCHE QU . . 



LETTER C. 

Anne Boleyn to Cardinal WdUey, 
[ms. cotton, otho. c. X. foL 218. Or%g.\ 

* J^ Fiddes, at the end of his Life of Wolsey, has printed this and 
another Letter to the Cardinal from Anne Boleyn previous to her mar- 
riage. He has indeed printed three Letters* ; but the second of the three, 
as appears from its contents, must have been addressed to archbishop 
Cranmer. 

The mention of the Sweating Sickness in the Letter inmiediately before 
the Reader, as well as the anxiety it expresses for the coming of Cam- 
pegius and the hastening of his decision, show that it must have been 
written in the autumn of 1528. It is here introduced to prepare the 
Reader more regularly for the perusal of those Letters which describe 
Anne Boleyn's advancement to the Throne and her Catastrophe. 

This Letter, since Fiddes saw it, has suffered tnaterially in the fire 
which injured the Cottonian Library in 1731. The words in brackets 
have been supplied from Fiddes's copy. 



My Lord, in my most humblyst wyse that my 
powuer hart can thynke I do thanke your Grace for 
your kynd Letter, and for youer rych and goodly pre- 
sent, the whyche I shall never be able to desarve wyth 
owt your gret helpe, of the whyche I have hetherto' 
hade so grete plente that all the dayes of my lyfe I am 
moaste bownd [of] all creators next the Kyngs Grace 

• Fiddes's Life of Card. Wolsey, fol. Loud. 1726. CoUect. p. 204, 205. 
VOL. I. X 



306 ORTGIKAL LETTERS. 

to love and serve your Grace, of the whyche I besyche 
yo[u never] to dowte that ever I shalle vary frome this 
thought as long a[8 ony brc]the is in my body. And 
as tochyng your Graces troble with the Swet [I thanke 
o]wer Lorde that them that I desyerd and prayed for 
ar sca[pyd, and th]at is the Kyng and you. Not 
doughthyng hot that God [has preserjvyd you bothe 
for grete cawsy s knowen allonly of his hy [gh wysdom]e. 
And as for the commyng of the Legate, I desyer that 
moche ; [and yf it be Godds] pleasor I pray hym to 
send this matter shortly to [a good ende] : and then I 
trust my Lord to recompence part of your gr[ete panys 
the whych] I must requyer you in the meane tyme to 
excepte [my good wyll in t]he stede of the power, the 
whyche must prosede partly f[rom you as ower Lojurd 
knoweth to whom I be syche to sende you lon[ge lyfe 
with contincwjance in honor. Wrytten wyth the hande 
of her th[at is most bound to be] 

You[r humble and] 
obed[yent ser\^ante 

ANNE BOLEYN,] 

The other Letter which Fiddes has printed, and which is still pre- 
served in the Cottonian Volume Vcspas. r. xiii. fol. 66, is stronger in 
expressions of thankfulness toward Wolsey than this. 

Both Letters indeed contain such assurances of regard, that Anne 
Boleyn has been charged with ingratitude for not aiding Wolsey in his 
declining fortune. Though with how little propriety the reflecting reader 
will determine for himself, who remembers that M'^olsey, after separating 
Lord Percy from Anne Boleyn*s affections, would have married Henry to 
a foreign Princess. 



OlllGINAL LETTERS. 307 

LETTER CI. 
Thomas Alward to Thomas Cromwell, a. d. 1529- 

[ms. cotton, vitellius. b. XII. foL 173. Orig,\ 

*^* The procrastination of Campegius in the Cause of the Divorce 
crested so much irritation in the mind of Hemy the Eighth, that by the 
courtiers the ruin of Wolsey was foreseen ; and no one watched the ebb 
of his fortune with more intense anxiety than Thomas CromwelL 

Tlie following Letter, though mutilated, presents a genuine picture of 
one of the last Interviews with which Wolsey was favoured by his Sove- 
reign. It is dated on the 23*. of September ; sixteen days after which the 
King*s attorney presented the indictment against him in the Court of 
King's Bench upon the Statute of Provisors. 

Thomas Alward, the writer of this Letter, appears to have been the 
Keeper of Wolsey's Wardrobe. He has been ab^eady incidentally named' 
in the Letter which relates to the foundation of Ipswich College. 



Maisteii Cromwel in my mcxjste hartiest wise I . . 
.... i ... ^ unto you ; advertisyng the ssame that 

I have dely b unto My Lordis Grace 

who did immediatly rede over after the 

redyng wherof his Grace did put theym in 

. . and so kepte theym always close to hym sdf. 

Th unto you, bicause I never sawe hym do 

the like bifo the which your Lettres his Grace 

coramaunded me And first, the same 

hertcly thankyth you for your . . advertysement, made 
unto hym from tyme to tyme .... things as ye have 

written unto his Grace wherin I know 

don unto his Grace singular pleasur and good service ; 

• /. rccommcndc mc. *» /. ddy vcrcd your letters. 

X 2 



308 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

and as ... . the vain bruts which goth against my 

lords I assur you as fer as may apper unto 

my said * other that be his servaunts, they 

be mervailous false, . . and gretely I do mervaile wher- 

of the skme shul '^ for I assur you that in this va- 

cacion tyme lettres wer written by the Kyngs 

commaundment from .... vyns^ unto my said Lend, 
by the which his adv . . .* and opinion was at sunr 
dry tymes desired ... in the Kyngs causis and af- 
faires, unto the which lettres . t . . .« was made fix)m 
tyme to tyme, as well by my lords . . , tyrig^ as also by 
the sendyng of his servaunts to the .... Instructions 
by mouth to the K3aig^s Highnes as the . . .« and case 
did requir. Over this the noblemen and gentry ... in 
my Lords goyng to the Courte as also in his retoume 
from . . .^ same dyd mete and incounter hym at many 
places gently . .> humaynly as they wer wonte to do. 
On Sonday last my Lords Grace, with the Legat Cam- 
pegius cam unto the Courte at Grene . . .^ wher they 
wer honorably recey ved and accompanyed with sun- 
dry of the Kings Counsaile and Servaunts, and so 
brought bifor masse onto the King^s presence, who 
graciously and benigly after the accustumed goodnes 
of his Highnes, with very familiar and loving acbun- 
tenance did welcome theym. And after communica- 
tion and talkyng awhiles with my Lorde Campegius, 
his Grace talked a grete while with my Lorde a parte, 

• /. Lord and. •» /. arise. •/. Master Stcvyns. * advice and. 

•/.answer. 'wrytyng. «/. matter. hthe. 'and. i^Grcnewyoh. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 309 

which don, they departed all to geder in to Chapel. 
And immediatly after dyner my Lords Grace went 
again unto, the Kyngs Highne^bejmg then in his pry- 
vie chamber wher they wer commonyng and talkyng to 
geder at the leeste for the space of ij. houres, no per- 
son beyng present, and a friende of myne be)nig of the 
privie Chamber told me at my Lords departur that 
tyme from thens ther was as good and as famiUar ac- 
countynaunce shewed and used betwene theym as ever 
he sawe in his life heretofor. This don my Lords 
Grace with the Legat retoumed unto theyr logyng at 
Maister Empson's place. On Monday in the mom- 
yng my Lord leving the Legat at his logyng went 
again unto the Kyngs Grace, and after long talk3nig 
in his Privie Chamber to geder, the Kyng, my Lord, 
and all the hole counsaile sate to geder all that foF- 
none aboute the Kyngs matiers and affaires. In the 
after none, my Lords Grace having then with h)rm the 
Legat Campegius, went to the Kyng'*s Grace, and 
after talkjmg and communication had a long whilis 
with the Legat a parte they both toke ther leve of 
the K^yngs Highnes in as good fascion and maner, and 
with asmoche gentilnes, as ever I saw bifor. This 
don, the Kyngs Grace went huntjoig. The Legate 
retoumed to Maister Empson, and my lords Grace 
taried ther in Counsaile til it was darke nyght. Fur- 
ther mor my Lord of Suffolke, my Lord of Rochford, 
maister 'J^uke, and Master Stevyns did as gently .... 



# 

310 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

iiavc thc3ansclfs, with as moche observaunce and hu- 
iny . . .» my Lords Grace as ever I sawe theym 
do at any . . . .^ tofor.^ What they here in ther harts 
I knowe n . .^ Of the premissis I have seen with 
myne ies ; wherfor I boldely presume and thinke that 
they be ferre .... overseen that sowth^ the said false 
and untrewe reports ; ascerteynyng you if ye coulde 

marke som ^ chief stirrers therof ye shulde do 

unto His Grace . . J pleasur. Assone as ye can spede 
your bysynes th . . . . Lord wolde be very glad of 
your retoume. My Lord wilbe on Monday next at 
London. And the Legat . . . pegius^ shal departe 

shortely oute of Englonde. A ^ makyng an 

cnde I ccHnmit you to the tuicion and g ' 

Almyghty Gtxi. From Saint Albons the xxiij*** S . . 
tember. 

All the gentilmen of my Lords Chamber with the 

•'of commendith the)rm hartely unto jrou. 

Yowrs to my lytle . • • . 

THOMAS ALVARD. 

* humylytcto. *» time. « not. * wwcth. • some of the 

' /. great. t Camp^ius. i> Aiid thus. > giUdanee of. 

^ f. rest thereof. 

END OF VOL. I. 



LONDON : 

PRINTED BY TilOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS. 



^